Though the Choice-Based Credit System is to be put in practice from the coming academic year, it is yet to take off among an apprehensive teaching community and implementers who know little about its procedures.
Teachers and students think the CBCS is being thrust on them without realising that such academic initiatives are mandatory and legally binding as per a UNESCO agreement, to which India is a signatory.
The Telangana Government had constituted an expert committee that framed guidelines and submitted recommendations, suggesting implementation in phases. It had also put a cap of 30 hours of instruction a week. The recommendations are being discussed at the internal meetings of the varsities.
Such discussions at the Osmania University revealed that variations in the process of assigning credits among departments and varsities could hamper the process. In fact, OU had tried the system in 2010 itself, but hit a road block in the lack of a coordinator to oversee its implementation.
“Every department was following its own norms in offering credits and awarding them as per their wish and lacked uniformity,” said the varsity’s Dean (UGC) A. Ravindranath.
Such a system would pose problems for students planning to move to a university midway through their course. The lack of uniformity in credits in the same course may only create more hurdles in obtaining a degree.
In fact, UGC has also not specified the number of credits each course should have. Credits have been suggested only for core subjects and electives, while nothing has been mandated for foundation courses.
Such loopholes have to be plugged first, say academics wishing to remain anonymous.
Moreover, the reluctance of teachers to accept the new system is another issue that could impede the CBCS’ implementation. Improving infrastructure to meet the course demands is another decisive factor.
The report of the expert committee also suggested that the university, constituent and autonomous colleges adopt it first followed by accredited and affiliated colleges.
THE HURDLES
*Lack of uniformity among departments and varsities in awarding credits
*UGC has suggested credits only for core subjects and electives, not for foundation courses
Every department was following its own norms in offering credits and awarding them as per their wish and lacked uniformity
- Prof. A. Ravindranath
Osmania University Dean (UGC)
*Teachers reluctant to move to a new system, hesitant to accept students from other departments
* Universities also need to provide the support infrastructure that CBCS requires
