Only 12 science courses at DU adopt semester system for now

Delhi University (DU) has finally decided to adopt the semester system, but only in a dozen courses. Starting from the forthcoming academic year in July, all Science courses, barring BSc Mathematics (Hons) and B. Sc. (Chemical Sciences) will adopt the semester system.

Delhi University (DU) has finally decided to adopt the semester system, but only in a dozen courses.

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Starting from the forthcoming academic year in July, all Science courses, barring BSc Mathematics (Hons) and B. Sc. (Chemical Sciences) will adopt the semester system. For now, Humanities and Commerce courses will stick to the old annual examination system.

Students joining DU in the Science courses will thus have to appear for two exams in an academic year from now one, instead of one final exam.

The changeover to the semester system in the other courses was stalled due to strong opposition within the Academic Council — the final decision making body in the university, comprising serving and retired teachers, and the university vice chancellor — which met on Thursday evening.

The meeting, that lasted over 10 hours, was a stormy affair. Accusing Vice Chancellor Deepak Pental of passing the courses unilaterally, the 26 elected members of the AC held a dharna throughout the night.

“It is unfortunate some of the courses could not be changed to the semester system, but we are hopeful that by 2011 all the courses will be,” said Pental.