Over 4,000 sign plea against four-year DU course

More than 4,000 people have signed an online petition against Delhi University's new Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) and it was submitted to President Pranab Mukherjee on the first day of admissions here Wednesday.

The petition, started by university alumni on www.change.org, urged Mukherjee to form a committee of academicians to review the new system.

"In just under a week close to 4,000 students, teachers and alumni have signed the petition. It's interesting how internet has played a strong role in stirring a debate on this issue," said Tamseel Hussain, a campaigner at Change.org.

"Thousands have been campaigning on this issue for months now, from intellectuals, students teachers," he added.

The house remains divided on the issue with some sections of teachers and students opposing it and others vehemently defending it.

The Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) will replace every existing undergraduate course of study in every college in the university. Apart from the main subjects, four applied courses offering a chance to use one's skills will also be taught to the students. The applied courses will be taught in the second and third years.