New Delhi: Keeping firm on its stand, the Delhi University has decided to retain its Four Year University Programme. The Academic Council of the University of Delhi held a meeting on Saturday on University Grants Commission's (UGC) letter which sought a review of the FYUP.
UGC had said that to maintain uniformity in the system of higher education, the Delhi University should go back to its three-year programme that is practiced in all universities across the country. The UGC letter seeking a review on the four year course comes after the NDA took charge. The BJP in its election manifesto had promised to scrap this programme.
"A resolution was passed in which it was decided that the four-year programme does not violate the NEP as there are exit points after the third year and the fourth year is completely optional," said one of the academic council members.
The University has deferred the introduction of the new skilled based Applied Courses as a part of the Undergraduate Programmes which were to be introduced under the MOU signed between the University of Delhi and National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC). The proposal, for approval of the B.Tech. course in Forensic Science, has also been deferred.
According to a DU official, the resolution was passed by a majority of 80 members. There were 10 dissenters.
Under the four-year programme introduced in 2013, a student can exit after the third year with a bachelors degree. However, if the student completes all four years he/she will be awarded a bachelor of honours degree.
The UGC had said that to maintain uniformity in the system of higher education, the Delhi University should go back to its three-year programme that is practiced in all universities across the country.
The Delhi University had said that since it is an autonomous university, UGC cannot intervene. But in its letter, the commission has also written that by virtue of powers conferred under section 12 of the UGC Act 1956, they can issue directives to DU.
Apart from restoring the three-year programme, the commission had also asked DU not to conduct admissions this academic year under the four-year programme.
However, DU has said that it will continue its admission process which begins Tuesday with its four-year programme.
Opposing the majority decision of the academic council, the Delhi University Teachers Association has alleged that such a resolution was a "tactical" move by Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh to delay the scrapping of the four-year programme.
"We demand that the UGC act immediately to ensure compliance with its order. The DUTA further demands urgent action for removal of Dinesh Singh from the position of VC of DU," said DUTA in a statement.
Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) also disapproved of the decision. A delegation of teachers and students from the Delhi University (DU) on May 30,2014 met HRD Minister Smriti Irani and submitted a memorandum urging her to scrap the four-year undergraduate programme and sack DU Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh.
Irani told the delegation that she understood their concern, the urgency to roll back the programme and that her party would stick to its commitment spelled out in its manifesto, said a delegation member.
"She told the delegation that she will hold widespread consultation on this matter at all levels and take a decision," Saikat Ghosh, an executive member of the Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) had said.
Student bodies like All India Students Association, DU's All India Democratic Students Organisation and Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union, students union of School of Open Learning (SOL) with DUTA and Democratic Teachers' Front (DTF) held a protest outside the ministry, demanding return of the previous three-year course structure.
Delhi University upgraded its three-year undergraduate programme to four years from the 2013 academic session. The brainchild of Dinesh Singh, the move had drawn flak from the teachers fraternity and students.
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