After the central government’s nod to introduce Choice Based Credit System (CBCS), the decision has created as many opportunities as it has thrown up challenges especially for all small constituent colleges affiliated under Ranchi University (RU). After implementing the CBCS pattern at Post-Graduation (PG) level a year ago, the varsity from the academic year 2017-2020 will also introduce this new grading system for all Under-Graduate (UG) courses.
The university, which has started uploading the draft curriculums for all subjects (Honours and General) on its website, is yet to seek feedback from its affiliated colleges Heads on implementing the new model before the beginning of new academic year. However, several college Principals said that they had conveyed their grievances about the proposed marking system to the university administration and has also highlighted the possible tentative snags in its implementation.
Notably, besides few major benefits like flexibility in choosing elective subjects beside the Honours paper and credit transfer system, few significant obstacles like making grading mandatory in non-academic assignment modules, infrastructure glitch, student-teacher ratio, attendance, elaborate modules are lying ahead.
Citing few major constrains before the introduction of CBCS, Principal, SS Memorial College, Dr. Nand Kumar said, “Though we have asked for some assistance from university to boost up our existing setup but complexities like human-resource strength and syllabus is prime hurdle at the moment. As per the university guideline, syllabus is being designed and only after the introduction of CBCS, it’s constrain can be analyzed.” At present, there are 40 teachers at SS Memorial College on 6000 students. The total proportion of teaching staffs stream-wise for both Intermediate and UG level is yet to be augmented.
Similarly, the Principal of JN College Dhurwa, Jyoti lal Oraon too claimed that they are still brainstorming on drafting the syllabus as per the University Grant Commission (UGC) norms. While the Head of Doranda College, VS Tiwari admitting the challenges of this tedious grading system even though said that only after the completion of implementation process, he can justify the decision of varsity in introducing CBCS, for the time being they are looking for alternatives to manage the new grading pattern.
Notably, UGC had recommended a maximum of 60 students in each class under the CBCS model, but ironically, the teacher-student ratio is skewed in most colleges here under RU. Moreover, in a bid to secure descent grading, now all students’ would need to be more regular in class activities than they usually are on RU campuses. Practical exposure under industry-integrated approach too has been made mandatory, now even the grading of non-academic assignments can decide the fate of the students.
Furthermore, RU Vice-Chancellor Dr Ramesh Kumar Pandey had earlier assured to all the college Heads that university staff panel will be formed to assist the professors of different colleges whosoever will find any problem in coping up with the broad CBCS pattern. Also, infrastructure hurdle including filling the seats of teaching faculties was ensured to all in time-bound frame.
“CBCS implementation cannot be lingered for long; hence we have to initiate this grading pattern in the existing resources only. For filling the gap of teacher-student ratio difference, advertisements for NET qualified contractual teachers are out. Similarly, all the colleges will get fiscal aid, if and when they require. The university will also conduct seminars covering all important aspects of CBCS for professors,” said, Pro-VC Dr Kamini Kumar.