In a blow to the Bangalore University’s plans to introduce a restructured four-year programme from the academic year 2014-15, the varsity’s Faculty of Science, at its meeting on Monday, passed a resolution against it.
The restructured programme, which proposes multiple exit options and a credit -based choice system (CBCS), is likely to come up for discussion during the meeting of the academic council on Tuesday.
Resolution Sources said members from over 20 departments under the Faculty of Science unanimously agreed to pass a resolution against the proposal, an ambitious brainchild of Vice-Chancellor B. Thimme Gowda.
Objection “The main objection was to the exit options offered after the second and third years. There is opposition from principals of affiliated colleges and aided institutions with rigid combinations. There were apprehensions as to who would accept the degree as there is controversy at the national level with the University Grants Commission ruling against four-year degrees. The science and arts faculties are already facing a shortage of takers,” said a member of the committee who took part in the meeting.
The Delhi University’s four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) is already in the eye of a storm with debates raging as to how it was hurriedly implemented. For the BU’s proposed programme too, some quarters had even alleged that the honour’s degree is being introduced to help students study abroad (as a two plus four-year study course is expected in the western countries.)
The BU’s programme proposes to offer exit options; one in the second year after which the student gets an associate degree, and another at the third year to get a regular degree. A student who chooses to pursue the fourth year gets an honour’s degree.
The Vice-Chancellor had recently announced modifications in the proposal following a meeting with principals, but only with regard to relaxation of certain norms.
