JFME calls for nationwide protest on Teachers' Day; demands old pension scheme, safe campuses, scrapping NTA

NEW DELHI: The Joint Forum for Movement on Education (JFME) has called for a nationwide protest on September 5, 2024, coinciding with Teachers' Day, to oppose the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, along with other government policies that they feel are detrimental to the education sector. The protest specifically targets NEP 2020, paper leaks in exams managed by National Testing Agency (NTA), imposition of GST on hostel accommodations, fee hike in self-financing courses among others.

The JMFE press release read, "All constituent organisations of JFME would participate in and extend support to the decentralized action programmes being organized by various units across the country on and around Teachers’ Day viz 5th September." As per the official statement, the decentralized protest actions will see participation from various education bodies, including the All India Federation of University and College Teachers' Organisations (AIFUCTO), the Federation of Central Universities Teachers' Associations (FEDCUTA), along with support from students and faculty members of universities including Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD), Delhi University (DU), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

Criticism of NEP 2020 and other educational policies

As per the official statement, the nationwide protest on September 5 will oppose against National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, instances of paper leaks in exams managed by the National Testing Agency (NTA), and the merging of schools. The protest also targets recent education reforms like the Common University Entrance Test (CUET), imposition of GST on hostel accommodations, ABC and SWAYAM regulations, as well as fee hike in self-financing courses.

Additionally, it criticizes the scrapping of MPhil programmes, and reductions in PhD seats. Concerns are also raised about skewed student-teacher ratios and the hiring of staff through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).

Key protest activities

The protest will include a series of actions, with the central event being a Student-Teacher Ekta March from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The march, organized by FEDCUTA and other JFME constituents, is scheduled to begin at 1 pm on September 5, followed by a public meeting at Jantar Mantar.

In addition to the march, the JFME has called for a symbolic protest where teachers across the country are encouraged to wear black badges while teaching or participating in various functions on September 5. This is in response to a call by AIFUCTO, which strongly opposes the NEP 2020 and other government policies such as school mergers, the introduction of self-financing courses, and the increasing role of private coaching mafias.

The press release read, “Let us renew our collective determination to fight back against the destructive education policies of privatization, corporatization and exclusion, and resolve to defend secular, scientific and democratic quality public-funded education for all.”

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Key demands

The JFME has outlined several key demands, including:

• Right to Education (RTE): Ensuring education is accessible from Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) to the postgraduate (PG) level.

• Increased public spending on education: Advocating for a minimum of 10% of GDP to be allocated to public education.

• Gender-sensitive and safe campuses: A demand for the creation of safe educational environments.

• Restoration of old pension scheme: Along with resolving anomalies in the 7th UGC Pay Revision and ensuring timely payment of salaries and pensions.

• Scholarships and vacancies: The reinstatement of scholarships for minority, SC/ST, and OBC students, as well as filling vacant teaching and non-teaching posts.

Action programmes by JFME constituents across nation

The JFME has urged all its constituent organizations to share the details of action programs being organized across the country. The official press release read, "The list of action programmes being organized by various JFME constituents across the country on and around 5th September with contact details of organisers be shared with JFME Office Bearers. This list will be circulated widely by Office Bearers to facilitate coordination with and participation by local units of other constituent organisations of JFME."