In display of their support to Shiksha Bachao Abhiyaan rally in Delhi, the private schools in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali have decided to remain closed on Saturday, April 7. All those schools under the banners of Independent Schools Association (ISA) and Panchkula Private School’s Association (PPSA) have collectively taken the decision.
However, only those schools which are centres for the CBSE board exams will be open.
There are 26 schools under PPSA in Panchkula and around 54 schools under ISA. To avoid any confusion on which school is open or closed, the school authorities will be sending personal messages informing parents the same.
The rally is going to be organized by National Independent School’s association (NISA) in Delhi on April 7. NISA has launched this movement against the increasing interference from government in working of private schools.
What is Shiksha Bachao Abhiyaan?
The academic community under the banner of Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) started this rally on Feb 16 in Delhi.
What are they protesting against?
- The academic community is protesting against the 30% – 70% funding formula for the universities which is recommended by Ministry of Human Resource Development and notified by UGC to compensate reduced allocation of funds to UGC recently.
- Also, they are against the recent reduced allocation of funds to the State Universities. As opposed to 80% of central assistance for 51 months, now the varsities have been allocated only 50% of central assistance and that too for a reduced period of 39 months.
- Teachers and students are also agitated about the Regulations on Autonomous Colleges and Graded Autonomy recently gazetted on February 12, 2018.
What is the 30% – 70% Funding Formula?
- As per 30% – 70% funding formula, the central universities are expected to generate 30 per cent of the financial burden with the 7th Pay Revision.
- With 7th Pay Revision, the salary revision policy for central government employees which will eventually burden students.
How do they impact teachers & students?
- The recent move will have two-fold impact. Not only the disbursement of salaries of staff will be affected, but it will also force varsities to raise funds through student fees and introduction of self-financing courses.
- It will lead to dreadful commercialisation in education sector and will make public funded education expensive and adversely impact its quality.
- The exponential fee hike will become a deterrent for students, especially poor students, and they will be pushed out of higher education. It will, inturn, make education elitist and non-inclusive. The education of the basic and core areas of humanities, social sciences and sciences will become unsustainable.
Who all participated in February?
Teachers and students’ organisations from Delhi, Punjab, Uttrakhand participated in Feb 16 Shiksha Bachao Rally.
Also Read: Chandigarh, Mohali Institutes Shine in NIRF Ranking; NIPER 1st, PGIMER 2nd, PU 20th
Source: Times of India, NDTV, India Today
Image Credits: Google Images