API norms: HRD Min to hold meeting with teachers' associations

The HRD Ministry will soon hold parleys with university teachers' association in the wake of protests by them against the Academic Performance Indicator (API) norms revised by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
"MHRD is holding a meeting very soon with teachers' associations across the country on the issue of minimum qualifications and API," a senior official told PTI.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) had earlier revised the criteria for API scores which lay down parameters for teaching norms for college and varsity teachers and also the basis of their promotions.
The revised norms led to several protests against the UGC by the teachers who claimed the new norms were anti-academic and would enhance their workload.

However, the HRD Ministry stepped in and assured that the workload of the teachers would not be increased under the new criteria.
The new API norms also provide for students' feedback on teachers' performance, which has also attracted criticism from the teaching community.
It is learnt that Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA), which is urging UGC to withdraw the new API norms, is planning a protest on Monday.