PU teachers to go on mass leave, dharna today over higher education reforms | Patna News
Patna: Setting aside political affiliations and organisational differences, teachers of Patna University (PU) on Monday decided to go on mass casual leave on Tuesday to protest the proposed higher education reforms in Bihar. They will also stage a day-long dharna at the university headquarters, demanding that the state govt withdraw the proposed changes.At a general body meeting of the Patna University Teachers’ Association (PUTA) held at B N College under the chairmanship of president Sheo Sagar Prasad, teachers from colleges and postgraduate departments unanimously resolved to oppose what they termed as attempts to alter the fundamental character of state universities through excessive centralisation of academic and administrative powers, erosion of institutional autonomy and dilution of the governor’s role as chancellor.The teachers criticised the govt’s proposal to remove more than 500 constituent undergraduate colleges from the control of state universities and place them directly under the higher education department. They argued that such a move would reduce colleges to administrative units of the department, undermining academic freedom and pedagogical independence.They also contended that the proposal runs contrary to the decentralisation and autonomy objectives envisaged under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.Several faculty members warned that the proposed amendments to university Acts would undermine the distinct identity of the historic Patna University and its constituent colleges, while curbing the academic freedom of teachers and students. They threatened to launch a prolonged agitation if the reforms were implemented.The association urged both the state government and the chancellor to preserve Bihar’s established higher education structure in the larger interest of students, teachers and academic institutions.
