In case of completion of required credits in a particular course, the nomenclature of this new degree will also include specialisation.
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Fifteen students from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay opted for the early exit option last year, when it was first introduced, according to Dean of Academic Programmes at the institute, professor Avinash Mahajan.
The students who are unable to complete the four-year B.Tech course and are keen on leaving, can do so with an IIT degree of B.Sc. in Engineering. This, according to the institute, provides students with an honorable exit, instead of being a drop-out, even after completing course work of three-years.
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Informing that the decision was the byproduct of a discussion in a meeting of the IIT Council, professor Mahajan said, “Some years ago, it was discussed to provide weakly performing students with an option to take an honorable exit.” So far, these students would be drop-outs.
Professor Mahajan explained, “Students have to complete roughly 60 per cent of the total credits allotted to the course they are pursuing to be able to go out with a B. Sc. Engineering degree.”
In case of completion of required credits in a particular course, the nomenclature of this new degree will also include specialisation.
Professor S Sudarshan, deputy director at the IIT Bombay, said, “If a student is pursuing CSE and out of roughly 160 credits that he or she has to complete to opt of this early exit, the student can obtain B.Sc. in CSE, if the required minimum credits in a single course are met.”
He also shared that these students will be eligible to participate in the IIT Bombay placements.
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The duo were speaking after a press conference on three years of the National Education Policy 2020 wherein IIT Bombay, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan – Mumbai Region and Ketan Patel Joint Director – Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship shared various steps taken by the respective institutions until now in line with the NEP 2020.
Even as NEP 2020 recommends multiple entry and exit in higher education courses, the IIT Bombay has decided to offer only one early-exit option.
“These were the students (the 15 students) who had trouble passing courses, or some others who might have an idea that they want to do something else. But at IIT Bombay, we do not foresee every-year exit. At this point, three-years is the minimum requirement. We would like students to pursue and complete the course,” said Professor Mahajan, adding that there is no possibility of multiple entries.
Minor courses
In May, The IIT Bombay declared that the service of branch-change after the first year of the four-year B.Tech. courses will be stopped from academic year 2023-24. This was in the wake of a first year student’s suicide, in February this year. But in order to compensate for it and to continue offering students with liberty in pursuing courses of their choice, the institute decided to increase the number of minor courses.
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“Additionally, the English language course has now been made part of the total course work which was traditionally excluded. And students who wanted to take this course would have had to take it as an additional burden, apart from the regular course work,” said professor Sudarshan.
Kendriya Vidyalaya Balvatika
Informing about various steps taken by the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Mumbai region deputy commissioner Sona Seth, said, “In the academic year 2022-23, KVS started Balvatika (pre-primary) in 49 schools having permanent buildings and 20 more are to follow in this academic year.”
Seth also shared that KVS has revised the age-criterion for Class 1 admission and students will have to be 6-years of age to join school.
Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra.
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