An advisory by the University Grants Commission enabling students of three-year undergraduate courses enrolled under the choice-based credit system (CBCS) to pursue another year to bag their honours degrees has left students and faculty members of colleges under Delhi University concerned.
In 2022-23, DU had introduced the four-year UG programme (FYUP) as recommended by the National Education Policy. The first batch of FYUP courses are in the second year now.
The students who took admission in three-year UG courses under the CBCS in 2021-22 are pursuing their final year at present. The UGC wants the students of this batch to undergo one more year to complete their course.
"Students who have already enrolled and are pursuing UG programme as per CBCS are eligible to pursue four-year undergraduate programme and the university concerned may provide bridge courses (including online courses) to enable them for transition to 4-year UG programme. All the Universities and affiliated colleges are requested to take note of the above provision," said a notice issued by the UGC on March 1 this year.
DU is learnt to be considering implementing this suggestion soon.
Two students and two faculty members opposed any move to extend the duration of the three-year course by a year.
A student from Bihar pursuing a three-year history honours course said there was no need for one more year.
"I took admission in a three-year course. If I am asked to spend one more year, it will be a waste of time and money for me. I have completed the course fully. My final exam will be over on June 5. I would like to pursue MA after that," he said.
Another student said the majority of students were opposed to the idea.
"If you do a survey, you will see that more than 90 per cent of students in our batch are against it. The third-year students are interested in preparing for recruitment exams or higher studies. Only some local students who are not very serious about career are supporting this idea," he said.
Abha Dev Habib, a faculty member of Miranda House College, termed the UGC advice an "unacademic" exercise.
"The syllabus of the three-year course has been designed to equip the students to acquire the knowledge expected from a graduate. The structure of the FYUP is completely different. The credit distribution is different. It is unacademic to ask universities to offer the fourth year option to the students of a three-year programme," Habib said.
She said the ongoing FYUP is poorly managed as the UGC has not given funds to create extra infrastructure and faculty posts. She said the government in 2008 had enhanced the infrastructure and created new faculty posts to meet the additional need arising out of the expansion of seats to implement 27 per cent reservation for OBCs.
Rajesh Jha, a former member of the DU executive council, said the UGC's attempt to extend the duration of the three-year UG students reflects a "poor cut and paste job".
"This is a superficial effort by the UGC. This cut-and-paste work does not help students," Jha said.
Last updated on 03 Jun 2024
