Waiting for UGC direction on CBCS implementation: DU

While UGC has already asked all central universities to implement the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) from the upcoming academic session, Delhi University is yet to direct its colleges, maintaining that it is “awaiting instructions from the Commission”.

As the admission process to DU’s undergraduate courses for 2015-2016 session is set to begin this week, the colleges are in a quandary about whether they should prepare the syllabus, timetables and do workload assessment as per the needs and requirements of CBCS or continue with the earlier system.

“We are waiting for a direction from the University Grants Commission (UGC) after which we will take a decision regarding the implementation of CBCS,” a senior university official said.

“Meanwhile, we are preparing for the same and are ready for the transition. Once we get to hear from UGC, we will follow the due process and take approval from varsity’s statutory bodies and implement the same,” he added. The official, however, did not elaborate further on what instructions DU is awaiting from UGC after it had already conveyed to the varsities to implement CBCS from <g data-gr-id="31">upcoming</g> session.

The debate regarding the CBCS is intensifying with a section of academic fraternity rejecting the proposed reforms in the education system as a “crackdown on varsities’ autonomy”. Delhi University has been facing criticism from various stakeholders regarding its “undecided” approach and “contradictory” statements on CBCS implementation. 

After the HRD ministry had questioned the Vice Chancellor earlier this year regarding the varsity’s preparations on CBCS implementation, DU had maintained an undecided stand on the issue.

However, last month it had asked faculty heads to start preparation for the roll out of CBCS and had directed them to finalise the syllabi, triggering a backlash from some members of the varsity’s Executive Council (EC) who alleged that the university is violating statutory norms as the issue was never placed before the EC.