A six-member committee set up by the state education department last week to explore the possibilities of implementing a four-year undergraduate programme has sought to know from all state-aided universities whether they are ready to implement the programme from the next academic year.
The universities have also been asked to explain the challenges, if any, they are facing in their attempt to introduce four-year UG courses from the next academic year.
The six-member committee, headed by Jadavpur University vice-chancellor Suranjan Das, had decided after its first meeting to approach the universities seeking their response.
The state-aided universities and their affiliated colleges as well as the unitary universities now follow a three-year undergraduate programme.
“Responses have been sought from the universities because the committee has been formed to identify the higher educational institutions where the four-year UG programme can be introduced in compliance with the National Educational Policy (NEP) 2020,” said an official in the higher education department.
A letter addressed to the vice-chancellors on March 31 says responses would have to be sent to the committee within 15 days.
The letter says the universities after consulting the stakeholders have to inform the committee “(a) If the university is prepared to implement the National Curriculum and Credit Framework from the 2023 academic session; (b) If the university is not prepared to implement the curriculum, (then) what are the challenges it is facing; (c) If the university suggests any modification of the curriculum in consonance with local conditions and requirements”.
VC Das told The Telegraph: “We will compile the responses and send them to the department.”
The department announced the constitution of the committee on March 27 after it had written to all state-aided universities on March 17 “to take appropriate steps” for the introduction of the four-year undergraduate programme from the forthcoming academic session.
Calcutta University has written to the principals of its 153 affiliated colleges to know about the infrastructure available so it can take a call on rolling out the four-year undergraduate programme.
JU VC Das said he would meet the heads of all the departments in the university’s arts faculty on Tuesday and the teachers of the science faculty the day after to discuss the implementation of the programme.
An official in the higher education department said Calcutta University, North Bengal University and other universities that have a large number of colleges affiliated to them may face challenges in implementing the system.
The four-year programme will allow a student to leave with a certificate after one year, a diploma after two years and an undergraduate degree after three years.
Students who complete the fourth year — an option open to those scoring an overall 75 per cent or higher in the first six semesters — will receive an “honours with research” degree.
“Undergraduate students spending an additional fourth year on campus will put a heavier burden on teaching and infrastructure, but the UGC has been silent on providing any additional support,” said an official of the department.
“ M any colleges are clueless about how the programme can be started without adequate infrastructure,” said Syamalendu Chatterjee, general secretary of the All Bengal Principals’ Council.