On course next year: semesters for undergrads

“The Academic Council passed with an overwhelming majority the proposal to introduce the semester system for all undergraduate courses from the academic year 2010-2011.

Today’s decision comes in the wake of an earlier decision taken by the Academic Council in February 2008,that had accorded approval to the university to introduce semester system for its postgraduate courses from the ensuing academic session of July 2009,” stated a university release.

Most Council members who passed the resolution were nominated ones,while most elected members had opposed the move,an Academic Council member informed. The Delhi University Teacher’s Association (DUTA) has also opposed the move on the ground that university infrastructure is not in place for the shift.

“How can we change the system when no blueprint has been given to us so far? Also,the university should put their exam system in place before going ahead with the semester system,” said Aditya Narayan Misra,DUTA president.

University Vice-Chancellor Deepak Pental,who was keen to introduce the new system,however,said,“Let us first implement the system in principle,after which we can sit down and discuss all other issues.”

He,however,informed that no committee has been formed for the implementation of the new system so far.

According to the university release,the semester system is being introduced so that students can study more than one subject and can get an education at par with other universities in the world.