The Delhi University on Thursday claimed to have gained massive support of the students for its ambitious four-year undergraduate course to be implemented from this academic session starting July. This was evident from the large turnout of students in the interactive session with Vice-Chancellor Dinesh Singh, wherein 90 per cent of them said they fully understood the course and that it was good for them.
“Almost 3,000 students from various schools across the city of Delhi attended a two-hour presentation-cum-interactive session with our team. We exposed them to the new course they would be taking admissions in and answered their queries regarding the same. Ninety per cent of the students in a written feedback said they understand the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP). They also feel it is good for them and want to enroll for it,” said Singh.
The session witnessed participation from schools including the DAV group, Springdale School, Vasant Valley School and Delhi Public School among others. Singh said that alongside the private schools, students from Government schools too participated in large number. Hitting out at the critics the course, Singh said they were neither a part of the university nor were they associate to the programme in any way. Further, to shun away the notions propagated by them, 43 principals of different colleges have signed a statement expressing their preparedness for the new change, the Vice-Chancellor added.
“We are well-prepared for the FYUP. We take objection to the opinions and needless interference of those who are superficially acquainted with the processes and activities of the university. Such people reflect certain elitism far removed from the ground realities and they aim at obstructing a well thought out and widely consulted reform process,” read the statement by the colleges principals in support of the programme.
Principals of prominent colleges like The Hindu College, Deshbandhu College, Daulat Ram College, Kirori Mal College, Miranda House and Shri Ram College of Commerce among others supported the programme.
Singh said students of first year will be provided with free laptops that will be later on passed on to freshers. “The DU is committed in assisting our students to help them with the best in the education. We are equally committed to the students of SC/ST status and OBCs as well, regarding which we are trying to decentralise the admission process and have requested the colleges to relax the additional eligibility criteria for the physically-challenged students,” he added. He also clarified though the FYUP gives an option with multiple exit points, the university does not encourage this but
shall acknowledge your education and award you certification so that the students can return in future to complete their education.