With admissions in Delhi University (DU) just a month away, the university is facing yet another crisis. This time, it is the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS). 50 out of 60 colleges offering undergraduate courses have opposed the implementation of the new system.
Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) had sought resolutions from colleges on their views about the implementation of CBCS, where most of the colleges have said that it will be a “fiasco” and will have similar implications like the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP), which had to be rolled back last year.
DUTA is now planning to take forward the resolutions to the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) for their intervention. “The DUTA General Body has resolved to oppose the introduction of CBCS as the system negates academic autonomy of the university to exercise its collective wisdom and design courses and curricula in accordance with its own realities and needs,” said Abha Dev Habib, a DUTA member.
CBCS offers a ‘cafeteria’ approach in which students can take courses of their choice, learn at their own pace, take additional courses, acquire more than the required credits and adopt an interdisciplinary approach to learning. Even as the Academic Council of Delhi University has agreed upon the implementation of CBCS, the university is waiting for the approval of the Executive Council for its implementation from the academic year 2015-16.
“The Academic Council has granted in-principal approval for the implementation of CBCS from the academic year 2015-16. The approval of Executive Council is, however, still awaited. The system cannot be implemented unless a draft ordinance is passed by them,” Delhi University spokesperson Malay Neerav told The Hindu.
“In between, consultations from all heads of the departments have started,” he added. The Executive Council, however, claimed that the proposal has not been sent to them so far.
In September last year, UGC had 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 implementing the scheme. The committee had submitted its recommendations, based on which the varsity had passed the proposal in its Academic Council (AC) of going ahead with the implementation.
However, ever since the HRD ministry questioned the V-C about the varsity's preparations before doing the same, they have been undecided over the scheme.
