Online or offline
Several colleges of Delhi University are still undecided that whether they should go online or not for the coming admission season after the announcement of new scheme of DU administration for undergraduate admission. While St. Stephen’s has already announced that it will follow its own admission process and online application system will be a part of the process other colleges are looking into its merits and demerits. Teachers associated with admission committee of several colleges have the view that the online process does not reduce the physical workload of the admission process. But principals of many colleges have made it a prestige issue. Students, aspiring to get a seat in the DU colleges, are watching the whole episode anxiously.

Faculty of Social Science vs DU administration
Introduction of semester system at the undergraduate level is still a big task for the Delhi University. Faculty of Social Sciences, one of the biggest and prestigious faculties of the university, is not very keen to implement the new system. War of words is going on between the administration and faculty is going on through letters. Recently the faculty sent a letter to DU administration saying that teachers of 22 colleges denied to implement the system. Irked by it DU asked to name the teachers (who dare it).

Delay for wind of change at MCRC
Jamia Millia Islamia’s MCRC has decided to implement semester system in its various courses of Journalism and Mass Communication. MCRC is one of the pioneer centre in the country to start course in Mass Communication. But people asking why is it implementing semester system so late? Delhi University started its two year Post Graduate Diploma Course in Journalism 16 years ago under the semester system despite the fact that most of the courses in the university were following annual system. MCRC understood wind of change so late!

But the subjects like Hindi, Sanskrit, Persian, Punjabi, Buddhist Studies, Arabic, MIL, Philosophy, Literature Studies, Psychology whose faculty members have been least vocal against the semester system and believe to better go with university authority, have chosen to follow the suite.

DUTA, who has been vociferous against the implementation of the semester system at undergraduate level, has also kept mum on the issue citing court order in this regard.

According to Delhi University administration Faculty of Arts has over 60,000 students in undergraduate course. Meanwhile, Faculty of Mathematical sciences too has already approved the introduction of semester system at the undergraduate level including Mathematics, Operations Research and Computer Science. Semester system has already been introduced at the undergraduate level in 13 science courses last year.

“We already have Master in Fine Art (MFA) in semester system but Bachelor in Fine Art (BFA) in annual mode. We are changing it into semester mode”, M. Vijay Mohan, Principal, College of Art told fachcha.com.

He says that it will need one extra month to cover the course under the semester system but it is good for the students too. Students used to ask extra time for their works and other related studies, he adds. At present, we complete our session by April. But after implementation of the new system the course will cover by May only, he says.

According to him the university is already cutting short its summer vacation and other holidays. This will help the college to frame its course accordingly. The college has over 180 students in BFA.

The Vice Chancellor said that the educational reforms are mandatory as the world is changing very fast and moving ahead with very fast pace. He said that support of teachers was very important for implementation of semester system in all courses. Terming teachers as catalyst of change he said that reforms could not take place without support of teachers.

However, unaffected by the gesture shown by the VC the teachers clearly told the Vice Chancellor to keep all the issue related to academic (semester) changes and educational reforms before the statutory bodies of the university. They said that such issues should be discussed at the forums like Academic Council and Executive Councils of the university. Though the teachers welcome the move to meet teachers directly but said that there was a set procedure to bring educational reforms in the university. If the Vice Chancellor has faith on democratic system he must follow the process.

Earlier, citing the example of the publication of result within 15 days of the examination of the newly introduced semester system the VC promised the teachers to provide better infrastructure in university for reforms.

Over one thousand college teachers, mostly the in-charge and HoDs of various departments of the colleges, were present in the meeting.

Delhi University Students Union today registered a strong protest against the V-C’s plan to implement of semester system without consulting DUSU. Office-bearers of DUSU today sit on Dharna outside the meeting venue of VC and students. Jitendra Chodhary, President, DUSU, alleged that the university administration is trying to sideline the DUSU in the whole process.

Later on, the DUSU office-bearers met the Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh. “The Vice-Chancellor assured us that there was no intention to neglect DUSU on the issue and the university would consult DUSU office-bearers on the issue next time whenever the university would organise such meeting, DUSU President told fachcha.com.

Replying to a question during the session at Delhi University Sports Complex the Vice Chancellor said that semester system is being implemented for the benefit of students only. He said that the semester system will be functional in all courses in science, commerce and arts streams from the next academic session.

Pleading the students to not to oppose the plan he said that he was aware of the fact that most of the student were disagree with semester system. He assured that all the exercises related to the welfare of students.

DU: STUDENTS CELEBRATE LOHRI AS SEMESTER EXAMS OVER
First year science students of Delhi University today got sigh of relief as the first semester examination over. Many students participated in bonefire dance on the occasion of Lohri at some of the college hostels. They greeted each other and danced till late evening. ‘At least, we have reason to dance and celebrate on the occasion of Lohri’ said a student of Hindu College, who came to participate in Lohri celebration with his friends. We will relax for next few days after the exams, they said.

SYMPOSIUM ON JAMMU & KASHMIR
Pakistan Studies Programm with Third World Studies of Jamia Millia Islamia is organizing one day symposium on Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. The subject of symposium will be ‘The Way Forward in Jammu & Kashmir’. The keynotes would be addressed will be given by G.K. Pilliai Home Secretary, Government of India. Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia Najeeb Jang too will present on the occasion.

DU had started the process after revising its academic calendar twice after the strong protest by teachers and students in this regard. Classes of second semester will be started just after the examination i.e from 14th January.

Principals of 22 colleges out of 31 colleges, attended the meeting. Some of the principals said that since the teaching of science subjects under the semester system has just started so it would not be good for students to ask them to appear in the examination. The practical of the semester examinations under the science courses was scheduled to start from this week.

The Vice-Chancellor has also said that the recommendations of the principals will be communicated to the committee, comprises of UGC representative, to take appropriate decision on the conduct of the examination.