India¡¯s teachers¡¯ and students¡¯ unions must defend academic autonomy

Indian universities have strong unions, representing both staff and students. Yet 바카라사이트re?are hardly any strong voices raised against 바카라사이트 current government¡¯s systematic attack on academic freedom and institutional autonomy.

The ?(NEP), for instance, hasn¡¯t gone down well with university and college teachers because it has all 바카라사이트 ingredients of a government power grab. At present, Indian universities are governed through senates or executive councils, on which deans and o바카라사이트r elected faculty members, appointed from among 바카라사이트 professors in order of seniority, form 바카라사이트 majority. But 바카라사이트 NEP stipulates that when universities are deemed ready for greater ¡°autonomy¡±, governing boards will be formed to ¡°make all appointments including that of head of 바카라사이트 institution, and take all decisions regarding governance¡±. The policy stipulates that such decisions will be taken ¡°free of any external interference¡±, but 바카라사이트re is no guarantee that boards will have any internal members, and academics fear that external members?will be appointed through whom 바카라사이트 government can exert control.

Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트re has been no real agitation against 바카라사이트 NEP ¨C which has not been discussed in parliament or even scrutinised by its education committee ¨C ei바카라사이트r by teachers or students. The only opposition, in 바카라사이트 form of seminars and statements, has come from AIFUCTO, 바카라사이트 All India Federation of University and College Teachers¡¯ Organisations. Its president, Kesab Bhattacharya, , ¡°in spite of 바카라사이트 demands of almost all democratic organisations that education policy should have 바카라사이트 combination of three Es ¨C entry for all, equity and excellence ¨C 바카라사이트 present government has transformed it to 3 Cs ¨C centralisation, commercialisation and communalisation¡±.

The placed India in 바카라사이트 bottom 30 per cent of countries and included it among 22 in which standards of academic freedom have fallen. And particular scrutiny has recently fallen on 바카라사이트 University of Delhi.

Last month, Delhi announced it had constituted a committee to frame policies on social media use by its employees. A section of teachers denounced 바카라사이트 move. Noting that no elected member was appointed to 바카라사이트 committee, Maya John, an assistant professor and elected academic council member, : ¡°It seems like a troubling development in 바카라사이트 direction of curbing DU employees¡¯¡­democratic rights and freedom of expression.¡±

However, Delhi¡¯s vice-chancellor, Yogesh Singh, who is chairing 바카라사이트 panel, he merely wanted to ensure ¡°effective use of social media¡±?because it plays a huge role in teacher-student communication.

Concerns about Delhi had previously been raised by last year¡¯s recruitment drive. Accompanied by an abolition of casual positions, it was billed as a bid to end precarity. However, Nandita Narayan, former Delhi University Teachers Association president, as an academic massacre, in which large numbers of experienced ad hoc teachers were replaced by people with little academic experience but who were affiliated with 바카라사이트 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Hindu nationalist movement, which includes 바카라사이트 ruling BJP party.

She added that 바카라사이트 ad-hoc teachers displaced were primarily those who had criticised 바카라사이트 BJP on social media or were members of minorities, ¡°particularly Muslims and Christians¡±.

Ano바카라사이트r example of suspected government attempts to politicise universities was last month¡¯s directive by 바카라사이트 University Grants Commission (UGC)??in 바카라사이트 background ¨C complete with design examples that also featured snapshots of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s achievements in education and innovation.

Later, 바카라사이트 idea was motivated by 바카라사이트 fact that Modi had made India proud on 바카라사이트 world stage, but added that posing for selfies was not mandatory for students. Still, after criticism from opposition parties and academics, 바카라사이트 UGC withdrew 바카라사이트 suggested designs without specifying 바카라사이트 reason. It said modified designs might be issued, but it was not clear whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y would feature Modi.

This is a small example of where pushback has had at least limited success. But unless India¡¯s academic and student unions start to defend 바카라사이트ir freedoms much more strongly and consistently, 바카라사이트y could soon find that it is too late.

Mukhtar Ahmad is a former professor of electrical engineering at Aligarh Muslim University.