Protesting educators in Delhi, Gujarat detained by police on Teachers' Day

By A Representative

In a statement that highlights ongoing concerns about Indian democracy and the perceived disregard for education, the Federation of Central University Teachers Associations (FEDCUTA) has condemned the Delhi Police's decision to prevent teachers and students from marching from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar. The march was organized in protest against the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and its detrimental effects on education.

"On a day dedicated to honoring teachers, senior educators and students were forcibly detained by law enforcement to suppress their protest," FEDCUTA declared. The federation emphasized that this incident underscores the challenges faced by educators in voicing their dissent against government policies threatening the integrity of public education.

Among those detained were FEDCUTA President Moushumi Basu and past leaders Nandita Narain, DK Lobiyal, and Rajib Ray, who reported being apprehended before participants had fully gathered. "The actions of the Delhi Police validate the motives behind the Teacher-Student Unity March on Teachers' Day, promoting solidarity among those dedicated to education and opposing the erosion of the nation’s future through the degradation of high-quality public education accessible to all," FEDCUTA stated.

In a related development, the All-India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) reported similar detentions in Gujarat on September 5, which is marked as Teachers' Day in memory of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Several teachers advocating for permanent employment were arrested by Gujarat police amid ongoing protests for permanent recruitment, which has not taken place since 2018.

Despite passing the Teacher Eligibility Test-Teacher Aptitude Test (TET-TAT), these prospective educators attempted to voice their concerns to the Chief Minister and the Education Minister in Gandhinagar but were met with resistance from law enforcement. AIDSO spokesperson Rimmi Vaghela expressed outrage, stating, "The detention of aspiring teachers on Teachers' Day is a disgrace to the education sector."

The organization has highlighted that the current education framework in Gujarat predominantly relies on contract-based teachers, known as Gyansahayaks, rather than providing stable, permanent positions.

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