DU students protest four-year course

Delhi University (DU) students Monday staged here a rally against the varsity's decision to introduce this year a four-year undergraduate programme.

The protest was organised in the university's Arts Faculty in North Campus by leftist students' groups - the Students Federation of India (SFI), Campus Front of India (CFI), Democratic Students Union (DSU) and All India Student's Association (AISA).

"Delhi University is not ready for the four-year programme. It lacks the adequate infrastructure and teachers. Students and teachers need to be clearly informed about the programme before it is implemented," Sunny Kumar, Delhi secretary of AISA, told IANS.

Students shouted slogans and demanded that Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh meet them.

Another protest is scheduled at 6 p.m. Monday at the landmark India Gate in New Delhi area.

The new course system has faced strong opposition from student groups and the Delhi University Teachers Association. They are demanding the resignation of the vice chancellor, who wants the four-year course to be implemented.

Dalit groups have called the course anti-Dalit and anti-poor.

The decision will convert the three-year undergraduate programme into a four-year course. It will add a compulsory foundation course to be taught in the first four semesters to strengthen students' educational base.