Teacher breaks ranks over 4-year UG prog

Teacher breaks ranks over 4-year UG prog

Bats For More Multidisciplinary Courses Instead

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  21.12.2020

Discontentment has begun at Delhi University over the implementation of National Education Policy. A teacher at Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) resigned after the implementation committee stressed upon the four-year undergraduate programme.

However, other members of the panel said that the programme was a part of NEP, so the university didn’t have many options regarding it.

In a letter to the chairperson of the committee, the teacher, Rajiv Jha, said there should be efforts to provide greater multidisciplinary under NEP instead of batting for a four-year degree as the flagship programme. “Even the students who want to pursue an MA degree may prefer a multidisciplinary three-year BA with a two-year MA. We do not have to completely ape the American system; a modified and comprehensive three-year degree would probably serve the interests of the undergraduate students just as well,” he added.

Jha stressed for more participation by undergraduate teachers and that reforms should not be pushed through a small panel. The NEP implementation committee consists of 42 members. Earlier, too, when the four-year programme was implemented in DU in 2013, teachers had alleged hasty implementation without consultation. It was ultimately scrapped in 2014.

SP Agarwal, principal of Ramanujan College, a member of the committee, said, “The panel is only devising a way to implement the four-year programme that has been specified by NEP. The committee is looking at the course structure to ensure flexibility with multiple entry and exit options.”

“After the completion of the first year, students will get a certificate degree, diploma degree after two years, bachelors’ after three and an honours or major degree after four,” added Agarwal.

Another member of the committee had the concern if students would even stay for four years. “In NEP, there are both one-year and two-year masters courses. So, why would a student stay for four years to get an honours’ degree,” she said on the condition of anonymity. “With the kind of structure now being suggested, there will be an issue with the workload and academic rigor that will affect the current students due to changes in the core papers,” she added.

She also highlighted that with the changes in the structure, language courses like Sanskrit and Bengali may not find many takers.