Duta protest against poor status of sports

There has been no recruitment of permanent physical education teachers since 2010 ■

After witnessing a laudable performance by the Indian players in the Rio Olympics this year, the Delhi University Teachers’ Association ( Duta) and a group of physical education teachers have raised their voice on the status of physical education in the varsity, demanding an improvement in the sports infrastructure.

“There has been no recruitment of permanent physical education teachers since 2010 and the adhoc teachers are teaching the subject as an elective course for third year BA Programme. Although admissions take place through sports quota, there is no provision as such for sports in reality. The university does not even consider physical education as an academic subject during admissions, neither does it hold any examination for the same,” said Duta and AC member Nachiketa Singh.

The teachers are also agitated over the university’s decision of scrapping the physical education course offered in 26 colleges, calling it illegal. On August 17, Bhagini Nivedita College principal Purbi Saika received a notice mentioning the closure of the course due to CBCS and directing the students to choose any other subject. This year about 28 students had applied for the course.

The teachers allege that the university has less than 100 qualified physical education teachers in over 75 colleges to cater to about 1.8 lakh students. “Many colleges do not even have even one physical education teacher, whereas UGC stipulates a requirement of at least two in most colleges with reasonable student strength,” Mr. Singh added.

It was way back in 1981 when the DU granted recognition to directors of physical education as teachers and designated them as lecturers of the subject. But this was till 2010. “Soon after that they were converted into nonteaching staff which means reducing their retirement age to 60 years. Duta has demanded that DU should recruit the required number of teachers in the concerned colleges and recognise them as teachers again. Also there should be an exclusive five per cent quota only for sports so that students can pursue career in sports as well,” the AC member added.