4-year graduation finds support in DU

Delhi University’s registrar’s office has sent a signed petition by over 50 faculty heads, senior teaching faculty and ex-vice chancellors of various Universities in support of the four year graduation to be implemented in the coming academic session.

The petition stated that a ‘maliciously false propaganda to undermine the success of the new programme’ has been taken up by a ‘small but vociferous segment of the University community as representative of the views and feelings of the University at large’.

“We are conscious that DU has embarked on a major exercise designed to revamp higher education and create paradigm shift in learning and mentoring.

For almost two years, thousands of teachers and students  have been engagingly consulted in meaningful ways to help in the design and evolution of the proposal for the new undergraduate system of study.

In addition, all statutory requirements have been met with overwhelming support in the academic and executive councils,” stated the petition.

The petition was signed by Dean-faculty of Science, Faculty of Law, student welfare and Head Of Department - Hindi, Punjabi, Psychology, Philosophy, Maths, Computer Science, Education and most of the science departments among others. Ex-Vice chancellors of Jiwaji University, Gwalior and Deen Dyal Upadhayay (DDU) University , Gorakhpur.

Meanwhile, another section of students and teachers who started the “Save DU” campaign to halt the implementation of the new graduation from this admission session, has gathered around 8,000 signatures for a petition addressed to the prime minister.

On Friday, the students and teachers involved in the campaign will hold a public interaction and candle light vigil at connaught place.

“The public is responding very well. For the last three years we have been knocking on doors for relief, however there is no response. We have met every politician directly or indirectly involved in higher education. Justice will come only when the public knows what is going on in the University,” said Abha Dev Habib, member of the campaign.
The campaign was started outside Vishwavidalaya Metro station and the members went to various other metro stations, distributing leaflets and holding placards.

“We went to Rohini on Wednesday, signatures on the petition were collected from school students, house wives, office-goers and shopkeepers. We campaigned amongst students of class XI in a nearby coaching center. Some school students also helped us to collect signatures on the petition,” said a student involved in the campaign.

On April 20, Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) has called for a meeting to review the situation prevailing in the varsity.

“31 staff associations of various colleges like Ramjas, Miranda House, Lady Shri Ram, St.Stephen’s, Shradhanand, Satyawati among others have sent their feedback on the four year graduation. Hopefully that will be discussed,” said Habib, also a DUTA member.