‘Space crunch’: MA Philosophy students of DU attend classes in corridor

The reason: Space constraint, as per Head of Department Enakshi Ray.

“There is a space constraint with many optional courses and tutorials being offered… It is difficult to slot each class, since many are overlapping,” she told The Indian Express.

Asked about the timetable mentioning “corridor”, Ray said: “We have mentioned the word corridor for terminological convenience. Technically it is not a corridor, it is the empty space behind the professor’s room (in the Arts department), which opens to the outer area (walkway) on the campus.”

She added this is not the first time that the space is being used to conduct classes. “Earlier, this space was used by PhD scholars, even before Covid-19 pandemic, to read. I would have to check the current timetable… wouldn’t be surprised if this space is being used to conduct tutorials or hold classes for optional courses for small groups of students. as there is a serious space constraint.”

“Recently, the number of courses has increased… we also teach tutorials and optional subjects separately,” said Ray.

A first-year MA Philosophy student said, “We have had to attend multiple lectures like this, sometimes sitting on the floor, sometimes standing, sometimes we even sit on the stairs. The number of students has increased, it is impossible to find rooms that can fit all.”

A faculty member who was taking a class on the corridor, defended the arrangement. “It was not a lecture, it was a tutorial… Professors sometimes hold tutorials in small groups in their own rooms too. Two rooms allotted for us in the Satyakam Bhavan building were occupied when the tutorial was scheduled. So, we had to adjust. We also wanted to schedule classes early keeping in mind that the female students can go back home on time.”

Another professor from the department added, “Six to seven years ago, the student strength in a single classroom was less than 100. Now, it is about 350. We have to teach them in different classrooms.”

A first-year student said, “It is usually assumed that in every session or batch, there will always be some students who will not attend classes everyday. The classrooms allotted, therefore, are smaller… In rooms built to seat 60 students at best, entire sections of 150 are expected to turn up…”

This is not a new crisis. In 2023, The Indian Express had reported on space constraints on DU campus as it prepared to implement the NEP’s Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP). With over 70,000 new undergraduate students added each year to its over 70 affiliated colleges, accommodating an added fourth year has further strained DU’s already limited resources.

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