Impasse over admissions in Delhi varsity continues

Even as out-of-town students continued to troop into Delhi University, and protests, lathi-charges and television stake-outs continued outside the Vice-Chancellor's house on Thursday, there was no clarity for the fourth day running on when the impasse over undergraduate admissions would end.

Delhi University responded to repeated directives from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to roll back the controversial Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP). In its response to the UGC ultimatum served on Wednesday night, the university said it was willing to accept a “blended” programme suggested by some “eminent” citizens that would give students an honours degree in three years, thereby countering the argument that FYUP was against the 10+2+3 structure envisaged in the National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986.

Though there was no official word from UGC on Delhi University’s proposal till late in the night, sources maintained that it was not inclined to accept what the varsity had offered as a “middle path” instead of reverting to the old three-year undergraduate programme as directed by the commission.

This university’s “solution” to the face-off suggests that the number of foundation courses be reduced and the honours subjects increased to enable a student to get a degree in three years. The ethos of the FYUP, however, remains. Also, the B. Tech course will remain untouched.

“We have decided to accept this blended solution (offered by some eminent academics) since we find it most feasible to conduct admissions quickly. Accordingly, the foundation courses will be made optional and the existing discipline one (major) and two (minor) courses will be used. This way, there will be no need to call again a Committee of Courses meeting and then go through the whole process of Academic Council and Executive Council approval. Instead, we can just accept this proposal in the AC and EC, and then begin admissions since the syllabus will not be changed. This tweaking will work in the best interest of the students,” said University spokesperson Malay Neerav.

This “blended solution”, however, has not gone down well with the Delhi University Teachers’ Association. The modified FYUP being used to further muddle the admission process is unacceptable, it said.