UGC, DU squabble leaves students in predicament

The ongoing squabble between the UGC and Delhi University over the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) has left the future of the students in uncertainty.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) had issued notice to DU and directed scrapping of the FYUP, which was introduced last year, and enrolling the new applicants under the previous three-year undergraduate course, failing which the commission warned of freezing funds to the university.

"If DU scraps the programme, it will leave the students currently pursuing this programme in uncertainty... not only the current students, but also the ones who have applied this year are also in a dilemma as to what will happen next," Priya Iyer, studying in Lakshmi Bai College, told IANS.

Over two lakh students have applied for the 54,000 seats in 61 colleges for the 2014-15 session.

"I took admission looking at the syllabus of the FYUP, it's so comprehensive. What will happen to our careers? We will be in a disadvantage in contrast to the new admission seekers if they are admitted under the three-year course," said Sameeran Saikia, a student of Kirori Mal College, who has just appeared for the first year examination under the FYUP and is awaiting the results.

"Students pursuing this programme will be adversely affected as everything will be revised again and it will be difficult for us to cope up with this change," said Aayush Gupta, also a student of Kirori Mal College.

The UGC has said if the university does not comply with the orders, it will also withdraw grant facility to the colleges, as the FYUP violates the National Education Policy 1986.

There are also students who completely agree with the move of the UGC and want the three-year course to be re-implemented.

"FYUP should be scrapped, we don't want our juniors' time to be wasted. It is just that the university authority needs to make sure that we are not in a disadvantage as our juniors will also graduate with us after the three-year degree course is re-implemented," said Iqbal, who is pursuing the FYUP in the College of Vocational Studies in DU's south campus.

"We should be given a paid internship in the third year as the newly enrolled students will graduate with us, and there will be crisis of jobs," he added.

Mayal Ruby, who is seeking admission in the FYUP in political science from Ramjas College, said: "The FYUP should be scrapped. But for students who have already enrolled under the FYUP, the masters (post-graduate) course should be made of one year."

"Three years are enough to do English honours and even any honours degree. The FYUP wastes one year by having a very weak syllabus in the first year," said Danish, who is seeking admission in St. Stephen's College.