St. Stephen's College faculty divided over autonomy, seek meeting with HRD minister

The staff association of St Stephen’s College has directly written to the Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javdekar on Wednesday stating concern over the meeting that was convened on 22 May between the minister and the representatives of St. Stephen’s College and Hindu College over granting of autonomy for some colleges affiliated with the Delhi University. The meeting on Wednesday was attended by UGC chairman DP Singh and Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Tyagi.

The letter addressed to the Minister was obtained by Catch News and was written by Professor Nandita Narain on behalf of the staff association of St Stephen’s College. It said, “On behalf of teachers of St Stephen’s College we wish to bring to your notice that the teachers, students and non-teaching staff had absolutely no knowledge of this meeting, and therefore could not participate in it.”

The letter alleged that the Principal of St Stephen’s College chose to be secretive about this meeting, and withheld information about it from the faculty, students and non-teaching staff of the college. “This smacks of bad faith, and intensifies our concerns regarding the grant of autonomy to our college. We would like to point out that the attempts to exclude teachers have been systematic. The teachers were not consulted either before or after the GB decision to move for autonomy. Again, when the UGC Committee came to visit the College, an attempt was made by the administration to keep the main body of teachers away from the interaction. Furthermore, we would like to inform you that 46 out of 56 permanent teachers who are in Delhi have opposed autonomy on record,” the letter said.

Members of the staff association have requested for a meeting with the HRD minister to discuss their concerns over granting of autonomy for St Stephen’s College and demanded that any furtherance of the autonomy schemes be suspended till the matter is rigorously debated and the performance of the autonomous colleges reviewed. So far, the management of St. Stephen’s College has sought autonomous status.

According to sources, after Tuesday’s meeting the government has asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) to seek legal opinion before processing the application of St Stephen’s College for autonomy. As the law stands, no institution affiliated to Delhi University can become autonomous unless the University Act is amended. Clause (9A) of the Act states that the university can only permit its colleges to conduct “courses of study in the Faculties of Medicine, Technology, Music or Fine Arts, as autonomous colleges”.

The divide between St Stephen’s College faculty over the issue of autonomy is clear. The Delhi University Teachers’ Association has thoroughly opposed autonomy for the college alleging privatization of higher education.

Rajib Ray, President of Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) told Catch, “This is policy assault in the form of Scheme of Autonomous Colleges, Graded Autonomy and subversion of reservation. Teachers and students have been protesting for past several months against these policy assaults. However, it seems that the Government is moving ahead on its agenda of turning colleges and universities of repute into teaching shops through the scheme of Autonomous Colleges and Graded Autonomy. This is a push towards self-financing schemes and online courses will have far reaching consequences for higher education, changing its objectives and purpose especially in a country like ours.”

He added, “The so-called autonomy is being thrust upon the university and college administration to expand self-financed courses and self-financed research and to determine fees for the purpose of gradual greater reliance on internal revenue generation. Privatisation of public funded institutions will badly hit the educational prospects of students coming from marginalised sections and women students. Even middle class families will find it difficult to send their children for higher education.”

However, according to an Indian Express report, a source within the ministry says concerns over fees hike are misplaced. The source was quoted saying, “This is a misplaced concern. Colleges can start self-financing courses even now. As for the question of unreasonable fee hike, the minister assured representatives that there will be no such thing.” The report also said that the minister also assured those present in the meeting that autonomy will not be forced on them.

St Stephen’s College’s application for autonomy is slotted for discussion at the next meeting of the UGC on 24 May.