The Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers’ Assocation has planned a series of protests against the draft University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines.

The association will conduct various activities from Tuesday (January 28, 2025) till February 4, 2025. On Tuesday, a sloganeering protest will be launched in front of all government arts and science colleges, followed by the release of posters on social media on January 30.  

On January 31, the teachers plan to meet the public at 100 centres to explain their stance. A State-level seminar will be held in Kumbakonam on February 1, and on February 3 and 4, the members will send mails to the UGC. 

The association has said that the recommendations of including a UGC nominee in the Vice Chancellor (V-C) search panel is against federalism, and that appointing V-Cs, who are non-academicians, will pave the way for commercialisation of higher education.

The members are upset that teachers must take up research with funds from private organisations. Introducing online courses would ultimately eliminate teachers from colleges, the members said. The condition that teachers must establish startups to be eligible for promotions is unacceptable, said S. Suresh, general secretary of the association.

The recommendation of admitting students twice a year would only turn education into a business, the members stated, adding that they were against the suggestion of appointing teachers on a contract basis.