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Mangalore, November 30, 2013: Shri Dr. Oscar Fernandes, Union Minister for Transportation, Road & Highways inaugurated the XXVII Statutory Conference of All India Federation of University & College Teachers’ Organizations (AIFUCTO) organized by AMUCT at 10:30 a.m. on November 30, 2013 at Loyola Hall, St. Aloysius PU College, Mangalore.

Nearly 2000 teachers from more than 20 states from all over the country participated in the national seminar on “Changing Paradigms of Higher Education -12th Plan Initiatives” to be held from November 30 - December 2, 2013.

‘Naada Geethe’ set the beginning to the conference. Dr. A.M. Narahari, Chairman, AIFUCTO welcomed the gathering.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Dr. Oscar Fernandes said, “Teaching in earlier days was different, today it is different and will certainly be very distinct in the coming days; we should be ready for the change to come.

Quoting the American President Mr. Barak Obama, Shri. Oscar said that the world should be wary of Indian students.

“Teachers have the role to empower the people and in this manner India will become number 1 economically and intellectually. India is lagging behind in research. Education must be provided to every child in the country. Students should not stop learning once they get a job. By 2020 everybody should be literate. Education must motivate students to take up research and teaching. There is so much more to be explored in the field of education. India must become the intellectual power in the world.” He added.

Releasing the souvenir, Shri. J.R. Lobo M.L.A said, “Our country has a rich culture of education and philosophy. Education is the manifestation of the knowledge within us. We need the atmosphere and guidance to unfold the ability within the students. This is the duty of the teachers to give them that guidance. None of our universities have global fame, today is the day we find where we are going wrong. Unless we show the path to the youth, we are in difficulty. In the next three days, we can think how we can upgrade our universities to global standards. I hope Mangalore will set the trend for new policies on higher education.”

Capt. Ganesh Karnik, MLC said, “Coastal Karnataka is famous for education. India has a legacy in education. The achievement of ISRO is an eye opener for the entire world. In Karnataka, nearly 1,40,00,000 students are attending educational institutions everyday with more than 4,00,000 teachers. The challenge lies in the ability to convert the human resource to explore to the fullest potential.

Rev. Fr. Denzil Lobo, Rector, St. Aloysius Institutions, highlighted what is going wrong in the education system where there is no link between primary, higher secondary and higher education, which is causing an anomaly in the quality of education.

Prof. Tarun Kumar Patra, President, AIFUCTO said “Today, under the neo-liberal economic conditions, privatization, commercialization and commoditization of higher education in the global market has emerged as major threats to the access, equity and quality. Access is being denied to the lower depths of society. So called private and foreign education providers are invited by the Govt. to enter the arena of higher education in India for profiteering.”

Speaking on the problems of the teachers, he said “In most states, the teachers are not getting their 80% arrears from 01.01.2006 to 31.03.2010. Teachers are being deprived of M.Phil./Ph.D. increments. Excepting Tripura, West Bengal and Kerala, the pension scheme, the strongest social measures have been withdrawn. A very large community of teachers consisting of part time, contractual, guest lecturers are working with a meagre amount of emoluments without any security of service and avenues of promotions. It is my firm belief that our united actions and well organized movements will overcome the challenges of globalization.”

Dr. B.L. Bhagyalakshmi, Director of Collegiate Education and Office bearers of AIFUCTO and FUCTAK will be the guests of honour.

The National Seminar will be inaugurated at 10.30 am on December 1, 2013 by Sri Abhayachandra, Minister of State for Fisheries and Youth Services. Rev. Fr.Swebert D’Silva, Principal, St. Aloysius College (Autonomous) will preside over. Prof. RaviSrivastava, Jawahar Lal Nehru University, New Delhi and Prof. Sudhanshu Bhushan, NUEPA (National University for Educational Planning and Administration) will present their view points on issues concerning higher education.The Conference aims to highlight the various issues of higher education and Movement Resolutions will be passed.

Former Leaders of AIFUCTO, FUCTAK and AMUCT will be felicitated at 6 pm on November 30, 2013. Cultural programmes have been organized at 6.30 pm in the evening.

About AAIFUCTO: AIFUCTO is a national organization of university and college teachers with more than 5 lakh membership. FUCTAK and AMUCT are affiliated to it. AIFUCTO has, in its existence of 50 years taken up the several issues concerning higher education and also the issues of teacher service conditions. The organization launched several agitations with demands like public funded higher education, inclusiveness, recruitment of teachers, quality improvement, better service conditions and scales of pay, etc.