University of Delhi teachers oppose UGC proposal on online courses – The New Indian Express

Express press service

NEW DELHI: Teachers at the University of Delhi have raised objections to the University Grants Commission’s directive to all universities and colleges to offer up to 40% of the courses of any program online on the platform open digital Swayam from central government. They questioned the feasibility of this decision and claimed that it would “ruin the education system”.

In a bid to mainstream the pandemic-induced mode of virtual learning in all institutes, a circular sent on Wednesday by UGC Secretary Rajnish Jain to Vice-Chancellors of all Universities and Principals of all Colleges requested to comply and submit an action-taken report.

The Swayam portal features video lectures by professors across the country as well as the ability for students to request clarification. UGC has also published a list of courses offered on Swayam.
Abha Dev Habib, secretary of the Democratic Teachers’ Front and former member of the DU Academic Council, said: “This proposal came from the UGC in 2016 asking universities to take 20% of programs online. It was then filed in August 2021.

However, it was not approved. The UGC is apparently pressuring universities and colleges to follow this policy which will make teachers fired. The government wants to cut teachers. She added: “The government wants to reduce the role of the university and the association between teachers and students. Although I think the mode of distance learning is important, a university should have the freedom to choose. »

Echoing these views, Academic Council member Mithuraaj Dusiya said, “This will ruin the education system. This will lead to massive displacement as the workload will be variable. If students opt for online courses, offline courses will be impacted. Also, our experience during Covid has made us realize that students are barely able to grasp things properly. Online education can never replace offline education. It’s a disaster.” OF VC Yogesh Singh was not available for comment.