4 Year FYUP: UGC and DU Battle It Out
4 Year FYUP: UGC and DU Battle It Out
In a war of sorts brewing between the University Grants Commission and the University of Delhi, UGC has asked DU to conduct admissions under the 3 year UG program. This UGC directive is a welcome relief for many DU applicants as admissions to the varsity colleges are all set to commence from June 24.
UGC has also asked for the maintenance of uniformity in the higher education system by holding that DU should return to its 3 year program practiced in universities across the country. The UGC's order to DU to comply with the National Education Policy of 10+2+3 has stopped St. Stephen's college in its tracks. The college has deferred its admission process till clarity has been achieved in some respects, if not all.
Though Stephen's is a minority institution with its own admission procedure, it follows the DU admission policy. The college has issued a statement declaring the deferment of the final admissions till decisions are taken by a competent authority. The college will only admit students to duly approved courses.
If affected by the delay in the final decision taken by the UGC with respect to the FYUP, the candidates will be given 3 working days for fee deposition from the time a notice for final admissions shall be put up on the college notice board and website.
The UGC has also asked DU to roll back the 4 year FYUP even while DU is protesting that the course is not against the National Education Policy. The UGC has also issued a letter to the varsity saying that the course is a violation of the NEP 1986, and asked them to restore a 3 year programme.
The varsity academic council has also held a meeting and passed a resolution in favor of the programme being in accordance with the NEP. A resolution was passed by the DU academic council that the 4 year programme is not a violation of the NEP as the third year has exit points and the fourth year is optional.
A resolution has been passed wherein the majority of around 80 members agreed to it. The 4 year programme has not been very popular with DU aspirants, many of whom are complaining that they have been made into guinea pigs. However, the issue of why this problem needs to arise is also questionable. If students have the choice of exiting in the third year, it is the student and not the varsity who is the king when it comes to making choices.
But the difference between a bachelor's degree and a bachelor of honours degree is what is fuelling this fight. Students who graduate after 3 years only pass the bachelor's programme while those who pass in the fourth year given a bachelor of honours degree. Also an issue is the need for uniformity in the education system of the country. But with DU yet to take a U-turn and UGC refusing to give the green signal, it is now the unfortunate students who are in a jam.
