No annual exam, lesser study load

Moving out of its comfort zone, the University of Delhi has decided to implement semester system at the undergraduate level. Swaha Sahoo reports.

Moving out of its comfort zone, the University of Delhi has decided to implement semester system at the undergraduate level.

HT Image

From the academic session 2010-11, students can look forward to comfortable student exchange, continuous evaluation and more inter-disciplinary courses.

However, passing of the proposal at the Academic Council meeting on Friday was marred by controversy, with teachers alleging that the Vice-Chancellor used coercion to get the system implemented.

A universal system:
The University Grants Commission hopes that all universities in India will have semester system and a uniform curriculum by the end of 2012, enabling students and faculty movement across colleges and departments.

“Semester system will work effectively in Delhi University. Student involvement will increase and the burden of exams will reduce by 50 per cent,” said P.C. Jain, principal, Sri Ram College of Commerce.

“The papers will be divided into two semesters. This will enable a decrease in the syllabus and also reduce cramming.”
Continuous evaluation

“Semesters involve continuous evaluation of students who tend to study only in the last two months before annual exams. It will keep students on their toes,” said Meera Ramachandran, principal, Gargi College.

“However, colleges should have the freedom to formulate their own programmes. If we are looking at inter-university migration, then we should also combine it with a credit system,” said Ramachandran.

Students like it
“Semesters will be more like school, where you finish one part of the syllabus and then go to the next,” said Devika Goel, who is applying for B.Com Programme at DU.

“The burden of syllabus will decrease considerably.”

It will also make the college academic scene more systematic, said Kirti Bhola, final year B.SC. student at Miranda House. “In an annual system you cram too much and wait till the end of the year to write a test, which is not very healthy,” said Bhola.

Points of difference:
“We are not opposed to semester system but the university has to chalk out a blueprint first,” said Janmayjay Khuntia, member, Academic Council.

“With semesters, we will have two exams, internal assessments and assignments. What time will we be left with to teach?”

Teachers also questioned the poor standards of DU’s exam system.

“Before its implementation, the exam system has to be overhauled and results declared on time,” said Abha Dev Habib, Council member.

“We are implementing exam reforms. Once everyone agrees in principal that the system should be implemented we can chalk out the details,” said DU Vice-Chancellor Deepak Pental.