Latest news with #AbhaDevHabib
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Not prepared for fourth year': DU's push for 12-hour shifts at colleges sparks criticism
Amid the rollout of the fourth year undergraduate programme (FYUP) under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 from this academic session at Delhi University, the varsity's push for 12-hour shifts has drawn criticism from teachers and students. Expressing myriad concerns, faculty unions are demanding the university withdraw the advisory and hold wider consultations as the classes for the new session begin Monday. In a notification dated July 31 notification, the university asked colleges to extend their hours and operate from 8 am to 8 pm to 'ensure availability of faculty and staff during the period,' suggesting a staggered deployment to accommodate additional academic requirements. However, faculty representatives argue that this blanket approach ignores the realities on the ground. 'The order clearly shows that we are ill-prepared for the fourth year,' said Abha Dev Habib, Secretary of the Democratic Teachers' Front and Associate Professor at Miranda House. She added, 'Teaching distribution and timetables must be planned in advance during the vacation itself if classes are to begin smoothly. Pushing this on August 1, with classes beginning August 4, leaves teachers scrambling. It also means that first-year teaching is now pushed toward guest faculty, which is no way to welcome students to a university.' Safety is emerging as the biggest worry. Many DU campuses are located in areas where traveling at odd hours feels unsafe to students and staff. 'This latest DU notification is extremely problematic. It is extremely dangerous from the safety perspective of students and teachers in many areas of Delhi,' said Dr Mithuraaj Dhusiya, an elected member of DU's Executive Council. 'Making students sit from 8 am to 8 pm is neither feasible nor practical. It just shows that DU is not prepared for the fourth year of NEP — neither on infrastructure nor manpower.' Rudrashish Chakraborty, Associate Professor of English at Kirori Mal College and Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) Executive member, called the measure 'anti-teacher and anti-student.' 'It forces colleges to adopt a draconian system. The notification expressly instructs colleges to prepare a staggered timetable of a minimum five hours per day for every teacher, even if there is no space for teachers to sit and work,' he said. Chakraborty also flagged the potential impact on evening colleges, which traditionally cater to students who work during the day. 'It is not clear how this will impact evening colleges. Are they going to schedule their classes from 8 pm to 8 am? Or are they going to be dismantled altogether as institutions?' Faculty members also warned of an emerging hierarchy under the new system. 'The university has said that only senior faculty should teach and supervise the fourth-year students. This is a vicious attempt to create a division between so-called senior and junior colleagues, which will undermine collegiality and disrupt teaching culture,' Chakraborty added. 'We cannot implement structural reforms like this through last-minute orders without preparation, safety measures, or teacher training,' said Habib. Although the strength of students was not as high on Friday when colleges held orientations, better attendance is expected on Monday, officials said.
NDTV
6 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Delhi University's New Timings Slammed As "Anti-Teacher, Anti-Student"
New Delhi: The Delhi University has officially notified that its colleges and institutions are expected to function from 8 am to 8 pm for "optimal utilisation" of resources. The July 31 directive said the decision was taken after deliberations in the Executive Council meeting on July 12. The order comes ahead of the session, which for the first time includes students entering the fourth year under the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP). The expansion has raised concerns among faculty about infrastructure and manpower constraints. "In order to achieve this and to ensure availability of faculty and staff during the period, the deployment of faculty and staff be staggered," the notification stated. It said that senior regular faculty members should be given the responsibility of teaching and guiding fourth-year students, and guest faculty may be deployed wherever necessary. Rudrashish Chakraborty, an associate professor at Kirori Mal College, denounced the order. "8 am to 8 pm schedule of the colleges has now got an official stamp of approval from the University, thereby forcing the colleges to adopt such a draconian, anti-teacher and anti-student notification," he said. He said the order mandates teachers work "even if there is no space for teachers to sit and work" and ignores the safety concerns of teachers and students commuting at odd hours. Abha Dev Habib, a faculty member from Miranda House, questioned the logic behind the order, which potentially pushes first-year teaching to guest or less experienced faculty. "This is no way to welcome a new batch into a university or discipline," she said.
Indian Express
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Unresolved syllabus: Teachers question Delhi University's readiness for FYUP as new academic session nears
With the new academic year at Delhi University set to begin on August 1, faculty members have voiced concerns alleging unresolved syllabus issues related to some postgraduate courses and the newly introduced fourth-year undergraduate programme (FYUP). There was no immediate response available from the varsity over the allegations. This will be the first batch of students to enter the fourth year under the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF), a component of the National Education Policy (NEP). However, teachers claim they are still awaiting clarity on the final syllabus, despite the proposals being approved in Executive Council meetings held on May 23 and July 12. Several faculty members allege that due process has been sidestepped, and key decisions were made without adequate consultation. Many of the changes were passed despite formal dissent notes from teachers, further fuelling frustration. Abha Dev Habib, associate professor at Miranda House, criticised what she called political overreach in academic matters. 'We hear that committees have been set up which are dictating terms. This is unconstitutional and is owing to excessive interference by BJP-RSS,' she alleged, accusing the university administration of disregarding academic autonomy. Mithuraaj Dhusiya, an elected member of the Executive Council, said the university is not equipped to support the expanded curriculum. 'DU is still not prepared for the fourth year NEP-UGCF,' he said, citing shortfalls in infrastructure, budget and faculty. Further highlighting institutional tensions, Rudrashish Chakraborty, an associate professor at Kirori Mal College, pointed to undue external influence on academic content. 'Outsiders have been pressuring departments to alter syllabi,' he said, noting that such interference had prompted the resignation of the head of the history department. 'No academic can survive here without compromising integrity.' With the clock ticking down to the start of classes, the alleged unresolved syllabus concerns cast doubts over DU's preparedness for its most significant academic transition in years.
New Indian Express
04-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
DU announces three-year exit path for students in four-year UG programme
NEW DELHI: With the deadline for implementing the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) approaching, the University of Delhi on Thursday issued a notification allowing students to exit the course after completing six semesters (three years), marking a major step in the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This comes amid growing concerns over the university's preparedness, as several colleges reportedly lack updated laboratories, a finalised curriculum and sufficient infrastructure to support the extended programme. According to the notification, students who choose the exit route will be awarded either a three-year degree in multi-core discipline programmes or an Honours degree in single-core disciplines, depending on their academic track. 'Interested students can log in to the university's student portal at https: and submit their intent through the designated online process,' the notification reads. The University urged students to evaluate their academic and career goals before opting out and recommended consulting teachers and mentors before making a final decision. 'This initiative aligns with the NEP 2020, which emphasises multiple entry and exit options, giving students greater flexibility in shaping their educational journey,' the notification stated. However, critics say the rollout has been rushed. Abha Dev Habib, general secretary of the Democratic Teachers Front (DTF), had earlier alleged that the University has created conditions that are pushing most students to drop out before entering the fourth year. 'Even if they join, it won't make sense with the slashed core syllabus. The system is already strained — infrastructure can't be built overnight. There's no talk of funding either. How can they expect quality research outcomes without support?' she said. Introduced in 2022 under NEP 2020, the FYUP allows exit points at one, two, and three years, with options to pursue a research dissertation, or entrepreneurship track in the fourth year.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Delhi University blames glitch after 'Muslim' listed as language on form
Delhi University (DU) found itself under fire this week when applicants discovered that its undergraduate admission portal listed 'Muslim' under the 'mother tongue' section while omitting Urdu, a language recognised in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Screenshots of the form spread rapidly on social media, prompting academics, civil-society groups and political commentators to accuse the university of conflating religion with language and sidelining a key marker of India's cultural heritage. In a statement, DU said the mistake was 'inadvertent' and purely clerical. 'The University of Delhi sincerely regrets the inadvertent error in its admission form. We acknowledge your concerns and are committed to addressing them. However, attributing ulterior motives to this entirely unintentional oversight is unwarranted. We request all not to vitiate the University's diverse and harmonious environment,' the statement read. The portal was temporarily taken offline, corrected to include Urdu, and restored. University officials have not offered a detailed explanation of how the dropdown was generated. Faculty say 'problem runs deeper' Several faculty members dismissed the idea that the episode was a routine glitch. 'This is not an innocent mistake,' Abha Dev Habib, a former Executive Council member, told news agency ANI. 'Conflating religion with language is ignorant and dangerous.' Mithuraaj Dhusiya, who also serves on the Executive Council, warned that mistakes like these damage the university's inclusive image. "Urdu is an essential part of India's cultural heritage," Dhusiya said. At Kirori Mal College, professor Rudrashish Chakraborty called the portrayal of 'Muslim' as a language 'a worrying attempt to misrepresent India's largest minority community". He stressed that Urdu is a secular language spoken by Indians of many faiths. Beyond the dropdown error, teachers have questioned the terminology DU employs on official forms. 'The term 'mother tongue' is colloquial. Academic institutions should instead use 'native language' or 'first language' for clarity,' a professor from the English department said. DU launches course on love, jealousy Earlier this month, Delhi University announced that it will introduce a unique course titled 'Negotiating Intimate Relationships' for undergraduate students across disciplines from the 2025–26 academic session. Designed by the Department of Psychology, it will address Gen-Z's struggles with love, breakups, and emotional health. 'The course will cover romance, friendship, jealousy, and heartbreak,' DU said. With three lectures and a tutorial each week, it is open to Class XII graduates with basic psychology knowledge. The initiative follows a spate of violent crimes in Delhi linked to toxic relationships, underscoring the urgent need for emotional literacy among youth. (With agency inputs)
