BJP keeps poll promise as UGC annuls FYUP
23 Jun 2014 11:54 PM GMT
The controversial four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) of Delhi University has been annulled. The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Sunday evening hand-delivered an order to the college principals, which said ‘under no circumstances shall any of the colleges admit students to the FYUP for academic year 2014-15.’
Leaving no room for confusion, the order, signed by secretary of the Commission Dr Jaspal Singh Sandhu said that the failure of the obedience of the order shall have adverse consequences. ‘And further that any deviation from this directive either by the University of Delhi or any of the colleges under it shall be deemed to be in contravention of the UGC Act, 1956 with its consequences,’ the order said. Admissions begin this week with the first list scheduled to come out on 24 June. Meanwhile, Delhi University vice-chancellor Dinesh Singh, has called a meeting of the university’s highest body the Executive Council on Monday to discuss the fallout of the directive. The UGC order supersedes the resolution adopted by the university at its Academic Council meeting on Saturday last upholding the FYUP despite an advisory from the Commission to reconsider the programme. There is an outside possibility of the vice-chancellor quitting office with the funding agency expressing ‘no confidence’ in him. The roll back of the controversial programme was promised by the Bharatiya Janata Party both during the assembly and the parliament polls. Soon after coming to power a group of teachers led by BJP-affiliated National Democratic Teachers Front (NDTF) and backed by the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) controlled Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) mounted pressure on the government to roll-back the course. In its edition dated 2 June 2014, Millennium Post was the first to report that FYUP was on its way out and roll back possible with a fortnight.
‘I welcome the move and congratulate the teachers and students who collectively fought against the dictatorial attitude of the university administration. We are also grateful to HRD Minister Smriti Irani, who gave a very patient hearing to us,’ said Inder Kapahy, senior NDTF leader and former member of the university executive council. The UGC said that it would be ensured that students, who were admitted in 2013-14 under the FYUP programme when it was introduced, are able to migrate to the three-year programme without any hassles.
‘DU, as my reading of the directive goes, now returns to the three-year degree programmes in the semester mould and we would admit students accordingly. However, the colleges should be given some breathing space to reformat course-wise seat allocation as changeover to FYUP had led to big change in seat allotment in various new courses,’ said a college principal confirming the receipt of the letter.
The Commission has also constituted a 10-member committee under its vice-chairman to oversee the roll-back. The committee includes among others DUTA president Nandita Narain, DUSU president Aman Awana, Prof Pulin Nayak of Delhi School of Economics and Dr Minoti Chatterjee, principal, Kamala Nehru College among others. More reports on PG3
Leaving no room for confusion, the order, signed by secretary of the Commission Dr Jaspal Singh Sandhu said that the failure of the obedience of the order shall have adverse consequences. ‘And further that any deviation from this directive either by the University of Delhi or any of the colleges under it shall be deemed to be in contravention of the UGC Act, 1956 with its consequences,’ the order said. Admissions begin this week with the first list scheduled to come out on 24 June. Meanwhile, Delhi University vice-chancellor Dinesh Singh, has called a meeting of the university’s highest body the Executive Council on Monday to discuss the fallout of the directive. The UGC order supersedes the resolution adopted by the university at its Academic Council meeting on Saturday last upholding the FYUP despite an advisory from the Commission to reconsider the programme. There is an outside possibility of the vice-chancellor quitting office with the funding agency expressing ‘no confidence’ in him. The roll back of the controversial programme was promised by the Bharatiya Janata Party both during the assembly and the parliament polls. Soon after coming to power a group of teachers led by BJP-affiliated National Democratic Teachers Front (NDTF) and backed by the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) controlled Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) mounted pressure on the government to roll-back the course. In its edition dated 2 June 2014, Millennium Post was the first to report that FYUP was on its way out and roll back possible with a fortnight.
‘I welcome the move and congratulate the teachers and students who collectively fought against the dictatorial attitude of the university administration. We are also grateful to HRD Minister Smriti Irani, who gave a very patient hearing to us,’ said Inder Kapahy, senior NDTF leader and former member of the university executive council. The UGC said that it would be ensured that students, who were admitted in 2013-14 under the FYUP programme when it was introduced, are able to migrate to the three-year programme without any hassles.
‘DU, as my reading of the directive goes, now returns to the three-year degree programmes in the semester mould and we would admit students accordingly. However, the colleges should be given some breathing space to reformat course-wise seat allocation as changeover to FYUP had led to big change in seat allotment in various new courses,’ said a college principal confirming the receipt of the letter.
The Commission has also constituted a 10-member committee under its vice-chairman to oversee the roll-back. The committee includes among others DUTA president Nandita Narain, DUSU president Aman Awana, Prof Pulin Nayak of Delhi School of Economics and Dr Minoti Chatterjee, principal, Kamala Nehru College among others. More reports on PG3
Next Story
