Postpone 4 Years degree programme in DU, say Delhi University (DU) faculty

In March 2013, India’s premiere Delhi University announced that it is ready to launch the 4 years degree course for under graduate studies from July 2013 onwards. According to the new programme, all B.A/ B. Com pass programmes would be eliminated. Instead, 11 mandatory courses were to be introduced for the first two years and a total of 26 papers spread out over 8 semesters. 5 applied courses would be spread over 5 semesters with an exit option. In other words, FYUP would serve as a multidimensional programme wherein, it would be a vocational course for the first two years, applications-based disciplinary specialization in the third year and research-based specialization in the fourth year.

But 8 eminent teachers of the Delhi University have requested the HRD Ministry to postpone the implementation of the four year undergraduate programme (FYUP) to 2014. The teachers who have opposed the FYUP come from across fields and content that adequate public discussion and debate was not conducted by DU before implementing the FYUP.

The opposing teachers include Shahid Amin (History), Aditya Bhattacharjea (Economics), P K Dutta (Political Science), Satish Deshpande (Sociology), Krishna Kumar (Education), Uday Kumar (English), Shobhit Mahajan (Physics) and Apoorvanand (Hindi).

The opposing body maintains that the body that was part of deciding committee for FYUP did not mention it in its official programme. They also maintained that there has been no evidence of discussion around FYUP in a public forum. They also claimed that no public document was even released to explain the motive behind four year undergraduate programme (FYUP).

Some of the grounds on which the FYUP should be postponed according to the dissenting teachers include:

• Selective body: A 61 member body was created through a selective process omitting Deans of faculty, College Principals or Heads of Departments, thereby not consulting teachers known for their work on pedagogy and curriculum in the domain.
   
• Disparity: on the curriculum strategy of the four year undergraduate programme. The opposing body debated the intelligence behind the coming together of incongruent groups with separate requirements and potential into a homogenous group following same curriculum but with different exit points. The validity and importance of the course, then pursued, would be rendered unequal, they debated.
   
• False claims that FYUP is based on USA & UK education model: In the US, students undergo 2 years community college, followed by 4 years of liberal education. In the UK, the students can undergo polytechnic education followed by degree colleges. In both cases, the shift is possible and conditional leaving the students the right to continue or forgo, with distinct degrees (in either case). According to the FYUP, students of community colleges and four-year degree students are in the same classroom taking the same course, thereby giving the 4 year students no leverage over their 2 year counterparts. 
   
• Not favourable for students pursuing correspondence courses: Statistics state that about only 19% of Indian students opt for a regular UG degree. The remaining, opt for alternative methods of education. So in that case, is the four year undergraduate programme even worth implementing considering the remaining 81% of students will be left in the lurch?

As students, what do you think is a better deal?

Related Links

Delhi University to Launch Four Year Degree Course in July 2013

Colleges under Delhi University