The change to a four-year undergraduate course has been taken without a concept paper, without discussion and apparently in a whimsical manner. The curriculum doesn't explain how it would make students more employable
While the US is looking to revert to three-year degree courses to cut cost during a recession-hit economy, the Centre-funded Delhi University is trying to impose a four-year degree — without much preparation.
Delhi University has never tried to explain the rationale for jumping into a Four-Year Under-graduate Programme that would cost its 2.5 lakh students a minimum additional burden of one lakh rupees each and delay their entry to jobs by one more year. It says that the DU wanted to create a ‘compatible system’ with the US as the three-year degree is not recognised there. This is a blatant lie. World Education Services recognised the three-year bachelor’s programme way back in 2006. The DU also does not take into account the additional cost on the nation for extending the duration. The faculty cost would increase by almost 30 per cent. It would rob the nation of a few thousand crore rupees for no constructive purpose. It is an expensive, dangerous and unwanted experiment that the students must be spared.
What the DU wants to teach is also beyond the comprehension of many experts. Many, including Jayati Ghosh, Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, have questioned the process of bulldozing the decision with a sham academic council meeting. The change for this momentous decision has been taken without a concept paper, without discussion and apparently in a whimsical manner. The curriculum, which so far remains vague, doesn’t explain how it would make students more employable.
Many are finding it difficult to fund education for their children. It has become the most exploitative business, where even pre-schooling costs a minimum of Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 a month. Higher education costs are going beyond the reach of man. Education is no more the democratic right of the average Indian — the right is meaningless if education is beyond the affordable limit.
With college costs and student loan debt continuing to soar in the US, there is a clamour for getting a bachelor’s degree in three years. The three-year bachelors degree has been a staple of the Canadian university system for decades. The coursework is typically the same; there are just fewer credit hours required for graduation, and sometimes there is a special-project requirement at the end. Students get through college faster and at 75 per cent of the price.
The California, Minnesota and Ohio university systems are considering implementing three-year degrees. It is indeed time for India to look at how it could go back to its original two-year graduation programme. India need not follow the commercial education model of the US.
What the Delhi University is doing, which may force other universities to follow the pattern, is virtually creating an impractical syllabus. Its value is doubtful and delivery suspect. The nation needs to reject such models not only because they would cost it dearly in monetary terms and wastage of additional man days, but also for ethical purposes. It is a blatant way to cheat the students without allowing them to learn. The main change is this: From July this year, the FYUP will have no more BA or BSc. Instead, multiple degrees will be offered within a single stream: Associate Baccalaureate (after two years), Baccalaureate (three years), and Baccalaureate with Honours (four years). There would be 11 foundation courses regardless of the students’ previous training or choice of subject. All students will be forced to take these foundation courses, which will occupy most of their time in the first two years.
As per the DU’s orientation, most of the students would have acquired these basics in their studies upto Class 12. Why does the DU want to waste two more years on studies, which students would not be interested inIJ Is it not a way to trivialise higher educationIJ The purpose of higher education, apart from imparting knowledge, is to create a yearning to learn more. The DU is trying to smother that process.
The students have been given the option to opt out after two years with half-baked or no additional knowledge with an ‘Associate Baccalaurate’ degree. But what worth that would beIJ Who would recognise the degree, or rather the non-degreeIJ Does that not again substantiate the argument that the bachelor’s degree can be condensed into two yearsIJ It is not clear what additional inputs a student, who opts out after three years, would have. The FYUP reduces the choice to students.
It has 20 courses in supposed major discipline, six courses in minor discipline and five ‘skill-based courses that enable employability’ called ‘Application, and six courses devoted to ‘cultural activities’. The only choice given is in terms of major and minor disciplines. What does the course aim to turn students into — thinking persons or disoriented citizensIJ It is indeed a matter of concern that such a major decision in changing the education system that is apparently going to add neither knowledge nor skill nor create a critical mind, is being implemented without a nationwide debate. The DU must abandon its ill-thought of adventure unless it wants education to be devastated by whims.