New Delhi: Making a U-turn, Delhi University has now said that it will not go ahead with the implementation of the Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS) if its Executive Council and Academic Council decide against the same.
The varsity had last month asked all affiliated colleges to start preparation for the roll out of CBCS and had directed the faculty heads to finalise the syllabi, triggering a backlash from some members of the varsity's EC.
Accusing DU of implementing the programme “arbitrarily”, the critics had claimed that it was being implemented bypassing the Executive Council.
“The university is committed to adopt the UGC's directive regarding the implementation of CBCS but it will not go ahead if our statutory bodies do not give their approval,” DU spokesperson Malay Neerav said.
“We will not go ahead with the implementation by violating statutory norms,” he said.
He, however, maintained that DU was in preparatory phase for CBCS implementation and ready for the transition. In its communication on April 29, DU registrar had said “I advise you to start the process of preparation of syllabi for all the undergraduate courses within the structure laid down by University Grants Commission (UGC).
“The detailed guidelines, course structure, draft model syllabi for nineteen undergraduate courses which are available on UGC's website may be carefully pursued by you before starting the process,” the letter had said. Executive Council members had alleged that the matter was never placed before the EC.
Asked whether the university will violate the UGC directives if AC and EC decide in negative, Neerav said, “If AC and EC decide against it, what else can be done? However, we will cross the bridge when we come to it.”
Some of the council members slammed the statement saying that the varsity has reduced the statutory bodies into “rubber stamps” and their dissent was not being taken into account.
“In the Academic Council (AC) meeting in January, there was no discussion or deliberation on the issue. It was just placed as a reporting item and passed by the VC despite dissent from members,” an AC member said.
A member of the EC said, “I am sure the same practice will be adopted in EC too. They will just do formality and not take our argument into account. Four-Year Undergraduate Programme was introduced very much in the same manner.”
The university, also maintained, that the issue will not have any impact on the admission process for the 2015-16 academic session starting from May 28. UGC had in September last year asked all central universities to implement CBCS from the ensuing academic session, following a meeting of its Vice-Chancellors.
However, DU's plans to introduce the system were held back by the HRD Ministry which had questioned the VC about varsity's preparations before doing the same.
