Delhi University has decided to go ahead with the introduction of choice-based credit system (CBCS) from the upcoming academic session apparently without the “mandate” of the varsity’s executive council (EC).
The new system is supposed to offer students ‘seamless mobility’ across higher education institutions and transfer of credit earned by students. In an official communiqué to deans of all faculties on April 29, DU’s Joint Registrar (Academics) has directed them to start preparations for its implementation.
The Registrar’s communication came after a meeting between the Vice Chancellor and the deans to discuss its implementation on April 23.
Advising the deans to start the process of preparation of syllabi for all the undergraduate (UG) courses within the structure laid down by the University Grants Commission (UGC), the letter said that the detailed guidelines, course structures, draft model syllabi for 19 undergraduate courses available on UGC’s website should be carefully pursued before starting the process.
However, members of the Executive Council — the supreme decision-making body of the varsity — said that the matter has not been reported before the EC.
“like FYUP, this matter is also being forced in a fast-track manner following the UGC diktat. The university has all the rights and autonomy to reject the proposed programme,” Abha Dev Habib, an EC member said, adding, “How can the faculty deans decide on the matter with the Vice Chancellor and initiate the proceedings without EC mandateIJ”
Earlier, a section of DU teachers had submitted a feedback of 40 affiliated colleges to the UGC opposing implementation of CBCS on the ground that its rollout without exhaustive deliberation would be ‘disastrous’ for the University.
The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) had last week also written to UGC chairman Ved Prakash saying the programme is being “hastily pushed”.
In the letter, the association had said that the experience in Delhi University with the introduction of FYUP and its subsequent rollback shows that ‘reforms’ brought about without debate and discussion on its feasibility and desirability would have “disastrous” consequences.
“The unseemly haste with which yet another reform in the form of the CBCS is sought to be pushed is alarming,” the letter read.
The communication sent to deans and faculties to rollout CBCS merely refers to the meeting held between them and Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh but did not elaborate further.
The UGC had in September last year asked all Central universities to implement CBCS from the ensuing academic session following a meeting of the Vice Chancellors of all universities.
DU had formed a seven-member committee in December last year to propose changes in the varsity’s examination system with a view to implement the scheme. The committee had submitted its recommendations, based on which the varsity had passed the proposal in its Academic Council of going ahead with implementation.
However, its plans were impeded by the HRD Ministry, which questioned the VC about the varsity’s preparations before doing the same. Since then, the varsity has been undecided over the scheme.