Teachers support call against ‘anti-education’ policies of Central Govt

The Himachal Pradesh Government College Teachers Association (HGCTA) has decided to support the ongoing national movement against the anti-education policies of the Central Government and the University Grants Commission (UGC), organised by the All India Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisations (AIFUCTO).

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AIFUCTO has demanded the repeal of the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020, an increase of 10 per cent in the budget allocation for fundamental changes in education and the restoration of increments for MPhil and PhD programmes. AIFUCTO’s national vice-president, Dr Banita Saklani, criticised the current NEP for undermining the federal structure of the Constitution and reducing the role of states in education.

“In Himachal Pradesh, numerous demands from college teachers have been pending for years, with the state’s Government College Teachers Association struggling to address these issues. Notably, increments for the MPhil and PhD programmes have been suspended since 2014, which is a key demand of both AIFUCTO and HGCTA,” she remarked.

“Additionally, contract faculty in Himachal Pradesh are receiving only 40 per cent of the UGC pay scale, raising concerns of exploitation within the educated workforce. HGCTA is also advocating for regular recruitment of teachers in colleges,” said Dr Saklani.

AIFUCTO is calling for full staffing of educational and non-teaching positions, besides the implementation of the recommendations from the Eighth Finance Commission. Dr Saklani, who also serves as HGCTA’s president, welcomed AIFUCTO’s call and expressed full support for the movement.