College teachers' symbolic protest from today

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, AUG. 26. The Federation of University and College Teachers' Association in Karnataka (FUCTAK) will launch a symbolic protest from Monday against what it alleged the ``retrograde'' higher education policies of the State Government. The movement will take the form of an indefinite strike from September 10 if the Government does not meet the Federation's demands, the federation has warned.

As part of the movement, a mass postcard campaign will be taken up, appealing to the Chief Minister to intervene and stay the implementation of the policy of bifurcation of pre- university colleges from composite colleges. The campaign is also intended to urge the Chief Minister to restrain the officials of the Directorate of Collegiate Education from using ``coercive methods'' against the college authorities, the FUCTAK President, Mr. Ravindra Reshme, told presspersons here today.

He said teachers would wear black badges during working hours from Monday to generate public awareness about the problems haunting collegiate education. A joint convention of teachers, private managements, student organisations, and people's representatives of all political parties would be held shortly.

He said Teachers' Day on September 5 would be observed as ``Save Higher Education Day.'' Also, a mass letter campaign would be launched, urging the Governor, Ms. V.S. Rama Devi, to withhold her consent to the Karnataka Universities' Bill 2000, now passed by the Legislature. ``The Chief Minister will also be urged through a mass letter campaign to bring in suitable amendments to the Bill to restore the autonomy and democratic character of universities.''

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Section  : Southern States
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