The All India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation (AIFUCTO) has opposed the suggestion by the Home Affairs Ministry to hold online classes during the lockdown. In a video conference, the members decided that online teaching and examination during a pandemic is discriminatory. The AIFUCTO also insisted that the Central Government should reconsider its undemocratic decision to free the Dearness Allowances and Dearness Relief for government employees and pensioners.
In protest, they are going to flood the MHRD and UGC with mails, "All affiliates of AIFUCTO across the country have decided to launch a mass email campaign and send mails to FM Nirmala Sitaraman and PM against DA and DR freezing and decided to express protest by sending thousands of mails to MHRD and UGC against the online system of teaching and examination," Arun Kumar, the General Secretary of the organisation said.
"In a country like India where students from all social and economic background are impacted by the pan-epidemic, not everyone would have access to the internet. The marginalised and the differently-abled students will be adversely affected by the UGC decision," they said. The AIFUCTO suggested that alternatively, universities and colleges be allowed to finish their pending courses within 15 days of reopening the institution, finish the internal examination and then proceed to conduct a normal semester examination.
"Extraordinary circumstances demand extraordinary measures and any such measures should be in accordance with the values and provision of the Constitution of India and provide a level playing field for all," the organisation said in its statement. "Further, it (AIFUCTO) has requested the UGC to refrain from any decisions of going for online examinations and teaching to meet the present academic dislocation," he said.
