People's Democracy

STFI Presents One Crore Signatures To The President

Demands Universalisation of Education

The School Teachers Federation of India with units in 21 states, and a membership of more than 20 lakhs submitted to the president of India one crore plus signatures collected in favour of universalisation of education and ten other demands on October 8, 2007. The other important demands include spending at least 6 percent of GDP on education, avoiding foreign direct investment in education, abolition of contractual appointments, stopping commercialisation of education, withdraw from privatisation of pension, enact right to strike for government employees and teachers and raise GPF interest rate.

The delegation of STFI leaders was accompanied by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and MP Sitaram Yechury who impressed on the president the need to intervene for realising such justified demands. The STFI delegation included Kartik Mandal, president, K Rajendran, general secretary, A K Chandran, joint secretary, Ch Subash Chandra Bose, treasurer, Sibaprasad Muchopaddyay, John Philip, N. Narayana, Sultan Singh Ola, vice presidents, Amal Chatterjee, Sucha Singh Ajnala, M Samyukta, secretaries. Dr. Vijender Sharma also accompanied the delegation.

Text of the memorandum is as follows:

Since its inception STFI has been vigorously campaigning for establishing the right for free and compulsory education to all the children up to the age of 14 years. We were very happy that the UPA government was going to enact it in the recent days. But now, sorry to say, the central government has shifted the burden onto the state government. This will result in remaining the long cherished dream a mirage for a few more decades. Besides, the Model Bill has some vital lacunae also. The hectic commercialisation of higher education is also posing formidable challenges to the weaker sections of the society. In this context, we are demanding that the central government should take up the responsibility and provide more funds for education.

Some long standing demands of the employees and teachers of the nation are also continually neglected by the central government. Enacting the right to strike, raising the GPF interest rate and withdrawing from the privatisation of pension are some of them.

To bring to the notice of the central government these and other urgent demands listed below we held a march to parliament on November 22, 2006 and met the prime minister and handed over a memorandum.

Demands:

1. Universalise and ensure implementation of Right to Early Child Care and Education. Upgrade existing anganwadis and set similar structures wherever they do not exist. Link anganwadis with school system. Ensure free and compulsory education up to 14 years.

2. Strive for common school system. Ensure at least one state funded school within one kilometer radius, with mother tongue as medium of instruction. Only recognised schools should be allowed. Recognition should be granted on the basis of constitutional principles of secularism, democracy and scientific temper. Keeping these principles in view, Right to Education Bill 2005 should be amended.

3. Education cess should be spent fully on state funded school education. Spend at least 6 percent of GDP on education.

4. Integrate vocational proficiency and practical skills within the curriculum so as to develop work culture and employability.

5. No self financing courses in the state funded higher education institutions. More state funded institutions with adequate infrastructure and liberal fees and scholarships. Introduce courses in new and emerging areas in state - funded institutions. Expand state funded technical and professional education. Provide adequate funds for research, to respond to social needs and to defend independent and critical thinking.

6. No foreign direct investment in education.

7. Enact central/state law to regulate fees, admission with reservation, curriculum, infrastructure facilities, salary and service conditions of staff of all unaided institutions including minority institutions.

8. Autonomous status should not be imposed on colleges.

9. No private universities. Existing private universities should seek affiliation as colleges. Scrap the deemed university status granted to private institutions. Bring back their criteria for granting deemed university status. Scrutinise all the deemed universities started in the last 4-5 years on the basis of earlier criteria.

10. No privatisation and commercialisation of education. Education should not be brought under GATS. Initial offers made by the government of India should be withdrawn.

11. Appoint regular teachers and non - teaching staff. Abolish contract system.

12. No differential fee structure and no hike in fees in state funded institutions. Ensure quality through greater state funding. Decrease rate of interest on bank loans and provide bank loans without collateral security.

13. Democratise the entire system of education. Elections should be held for student unions, teachers and non teaching staff associations. Ensure elected representation of students, teaching and non - teaching staff in decision - making bodies. .

14. Funding should not be linked to assessment and accreditation. Assessment should be transparent, democratic and participatory. It should be conducted state - wise by state agencies.

15. Strengthen academic relevance of higher education in accordance with the goals of national development.

16. Enact the right to strike for employees and teachers.

17. Withdraw pension fund regulatory and development authority bill.

18. Raise GPF interest rate.

19. A national commission on education must be constituted to review the entire system of education.

20. Speed up the process and implementation of pay commission.