With Vinoba Bhave University (VBU) starting the Choice Based Credit Semester System (CBCSS), wherein a student would receive degree, diploma or certificate on the basis of certain credits, other four state universities are gearing up to incorporate the same guideline of the University Grants Commission (UGC) from the next session 2016-17.Under the system, students can choose one subsidiary subject. Besides Honours and side subjects they have to study as core paper, either Hindi or English, and a paper of skill development. Students will get credits on the basis of attendance, participation in extra-curricular activities and internal exams.“It is flexible for the students keen to study or work during under graduation. Out of the total 140 credits in six semesters in honours, a student has the liberty to gain 16 credits from other college. Moreover, they are bound to attend classes regularly since it will be counted in marking the credits.
For instance, in one year he or she has to complete studies of 46 credits,” said VBU Vice Chancellor (VC) Gurdeep Singh. One credit is equal to 15 hours which sums to 15 classes of one hour duration.In Sido-Kanhu Murmu University (SKMU) where the system was introduced suddenly three years ago resulting to backlog, the VC Ahsan Qamar is eager to re-launch it from next session in a sequential manner. “We will begin it in two phases from 2016 session. Initially, it will be done in skill based courses and vocational courses and then in the under-graduation (UG) and post-graduation (PG). We want to implement it in a planned way because the same pattern introduced long back collapsed the education system. The backlog will be completed by November,” Qamar said.
Also, he said it will help in retention of students in the classes which is missed in the annual examination pattern in all kinds of courses. As of now, Kolhan University (KU) has drafted a proposal of incorporating CBCSS in the B.ed and M.ed courses from the current session which is yet to be approved by the government. “All the teaching staffs are unaware about the system unlike the six month semester and annual examination mode. We are in process of explaining them. CBCSS in most of the courses would commence from next session,” said JP Singh, the Controller of Examinations at KU.
Ranchi University (RU) running some post-graduate courses in semester system since 2012 will introduce it in the next session. Pro-VC Raziuddin said it will be incorporated in both UG and PG. Similarly, Nilamber Pitamber University (NPU) VC AN Ojha informed they have decided to start it from the 2016-17 session.Some student unions have welcomed the UGC’s plan.“local students would be benefitted due to the provision of inter-university migration. Also, the compulsory attendance for more credits will motivate the students to study. Before beginning the CBCSS, it is essential to improve the infrastructure and fulfill the teaching posts. SKMU has earlier failed to sustain the pattern due to these problems,” said Y Shukla, the State Organizing Secretary of ABVP