Economic
Highlights
New Delhi, 18 May 2013
4-Year Tamasha
DU, HOW ABOUT 2-YR COURSE?
By Shivaji Sarkar
It is indeed
strange. The US
is contemplating reverting to three-year degree courses in its universities to
cut costs in a recession-hit economy. On the other hand, in a worse economic situation
in India, a Centrally-funded Delhi University
is trying to impose a four-year degree --- that too without adequate preparation
or debate.
Strangely, the
Delhi University has never tried to explain
the rationale for jumping into a four-year under-graduate programme that would
cost its 2.5 lakh students a minimum of an additional Rs 1 lakh each and a delay
in their entry to jobs by another year. It merely states it wants to create a
compatible system with the US
as the three-year degree is not recognized. This is blatant untruth. World ken
at Education Services recognised the three-year bachelors programme way back in
2006.
The DU also
does not take into account the additional cost on the nation for extending the
duration. The faculty cost would increase by almost 30 per cent and an equal amount
on additional infrastructure at the University and its colleges. It would rob
the nation of a few thousand crore rupees for no constructive purpose!
Clearly, it
is an expensive, dangerous and unwanted experiment that the students must be
spared. The increased cost would be finally heaped on the students as
additional teaching cost. It may only benefit the mafia, which is now entering
the education business, but at a great public cost.
This apart,
what the DU wants to teach is also beyond the comprehension of many experts. Some,
including Jayati Ghosh, Professor at the elite Jawaharlal Nehru
University, have
questioned the bulldozing of the decision i.e. the only one taken at the
academic council meeting. Indeed, a sham. The curriculum, which so far remains vague,
does not explain how it would make the students more employable, as per its
stated objective.
What the Delhi University
is doing, which may force other universities to follow the pattern, is
virtually creating an impractical syllabus. Its value is doubtful and delivery
suspect. The main change is this: from July this year, the four-year
undergraduate programme will have no more B.A.s or B.Sc.s. Instead, multiple
degrees will be offered within a single stream: Associate Baccalaureate (after
2 years), Baccalaureate (3 years), and Baccalaureate with Honours (4
years). Nobody has explained why there
has to be this nomenclature.
There would
be 11 foundation courses regardless of their previous training or choice of
subject. All students will be forced to take these courses, which will occupy
most of their time in the first two years. Is it not a sheer waste of time and
money? Worse, these courses include two courses on “Language, Literature and
Creativity” (one in English, the other in Hindi or another Modern Indian
Language), “Information Technology,” “Business, Entrepreneurship and
Management,” “Governance and Citizenship,” “Psychology, Communication and Life
Skills,” “Geographic and Socio-economic Diversity,” “Science and Life,”
“History, Culture and Civilisation,” “Building Mathematical Ability” and
“Environment and Public Health.” Can anybody explain the rationale?
As per their
orientation, most of the students would have acquired these basics in their
studies up to class 12. Why does the DU want to waste two more years on
repetition? Is it not a way to trivialise higher education, whose purpose apart
from imparting knowledge is to create yearning to learn more? Instead, the DU
is trying to smother that process.
These
courses will have to be pitched at a level that can be understood by all with a
basic school qualification. But why force these on all. And who will teach
them, given that even the outlines of these courses have still not been made
public and are unknown to the college teachers themselves?
The students
have been given the option to opt out after two years with the half-baked or no
additional knowledge with an “Associate Baccalaurate” degree. Appears good! But
what worth these would be? Who would recognise their degree or rather a
non-degree? Does that not again substantiate the argument that the bachelor’s
degree can be condensed into two years?
Undeniably,
the four-year programme reduces students’ choice. It offers 20 courses in
supposed major discipline, six in minor discipline and five “skill-based
courses that enable employability” called Application and six devoted to
“cultural activities”. The only choice given is in terms of major and minor
disciplines. What precisely is the aim--turn students into thinking persons or
disoriented citizens?
Worse, a myth
is being created that India
has joined the league of developed nations. However, given any parameters it is
a nice propaganda without support at the ground level. Poverty in absolute
terms has increased, there are fewer jobs, growth has stunted and there are
more hungry people today.
Families are
finding it difficult to fund education for their children. It has become the
most exploitative business, where even pre-schooling costs a minimum of Rs 5,000
to 10,000 a month. Higher education is going beyond the reach of many, landing
them in a debt trap.
Indeed, the cost
of education is soaring. It is no more the democratic right of an average citizen,
raising the question whether Indians really have right to education? The right
is meaningless if education is beyond affordable limits. In addition, a divide
is being created, wherein a new super class is emerging which is forced to pay
hefty fees, even upto Rs 10 lakh or more for an MBA degree though it may not
yield a job that may earn them Rs 1 lakh a year.
India is not a
loner in this world. The US
also is facing similar problem. With college costs and student loan debt
continuing to soar in America,
there is a clamour for getting a bachelor’s degree in three years. Canadians too
get their degrees in three years, not four as is often propagated. It has in fact been a staple of the Canadian university system for decades — a
century, in some cases. Three-year degrees are common in Europe,
too. The coursework is typically the same; there are just fewer credit hours
required for graduation, and sometimes there is a special-project requirement
at the end. Students get through college faster and at 75 per cent of the cost.
Importantly, the Americans
are considering this express lane as ideal for a recession-hit nation. They are
even considering reducing their medical education to three years. The reason given
is that it would be of great financial help to cash-strapped parents and
students. Thus, the California, Minnesota and Ohio university systems are
considering implementing three-year degrees, and a handful of private colleges
already offer or are set to offer these.
Indeed, it is time
for India
to look at how it could go back to its original two-year graduation programme. The
country need not follow the US
commercial education model but can set an example. It must guard against changing
the education system that is apparently going to add neither knowledge nor
skill nor the yearning nor create a critical mind is being implemented without
a nationwide debate.
Why have wide
discussions not been held with academicians, political leaders of all hues and
the student community? It is also strange that the students unions, which in
yore were known for raising such debates affecting the future of youth, have
not taken this up as they need to. In sum, the nation must force DU to abandon
its ill-thought of adventure unless it wants education to be devastated by such
whims. ---INFA
(Copyright, India
News and Feature Alliance)
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