‘Content will suffer,choice is just a façade’

The naysayers,several of them teachers,have cited several problems with the new format — its content,“façade of choice” and the lack of discussions before arriving at the decision to effect such a sweeping change.

Those against the change attack the key positive that DU claims will come with the change in format — increase in choice. The detractors claim “this is exactly what is being taken away”.

Saumyajit Bhattacharya,who teaches Economics at Kirori Mal College,said,“In the first two years,there is absolutely no choice among the 11 foundation subjects. For example,if a student had opted not to take mathematics in Class XI and XII,she will now have to compulsorily study it. In foreign universities — from whom we borrowed this idea — a platter of foundation subjects is offered. In our system,she does not have that choice. Additionally,there are students who want an Honours degree but don’t want to do research. In the four-year format,every student who wants an Honours degree is forced to study two research papers. Till now,research methodology was only introduced at the MPhil level.”

The 11 foundation subjects will also lead to a marked dilution of course content,Bhattacharya said.

“If a student drops out in the first two years,he won’t have really studied a major discipline at all. The two-year degree has no worth in effect,both for prospective employers,or for the student,in terms of what she has learned. Also,since there are multiple exit points,the number of drop-outs will only go up,” he said.

Some teachers argue that the implementation of the four-year course also brings about the a lack of parity among students.

P K Vijayan,Professor of English at Hindu College,said,“For example,a science student chooses math as his minor subject. He will hold a distinct advantage. The course construction of the minor discipline papers has ignored this completely.”

Others also see a problem of parity on a national level. “If DU is the only place to bring in the four-year course,and others don’t follow,there will be disparity,” Bhattacharya said.

There are problems with the way it is implemented too,say those on this side of the fence. It’s too sudden,too hurried. “The idea has been pushed through with undue haste. While they cite academic reform as the reason for change,they have foregone all academic principles of consensus,discussion and testing in the process,” Mukul Manglik,Professor at Ramjas College,said.

‘Designing curriculum is biggest challenge’

— Deepak Pental

Former DU Vice-Chancellor

Personally,I believe that there should be a ‘basket’ of foundation courses,that a student should be allowed to choose from. Coming up with a curriculum for these courses is going to present a big challenge,and it remains to be seen how the university tackles it. The four-year proframme has featured in discussions with the government and it should become part of the national policy… It is unfortunate that the government has not taken any steps to expand the four-year format to other universities in the country.