DU AC approves draft UG curriculum framework 2022; 11 dissent

NEW DELHI: The Delhi University Academic Council has today passed the draft UG curriculum framework 2022 amid dissent. Discontent over the draft Undergraduate Curriculum Framework 2022 (UGCF-2022), a few Delhi University Acadmic Council members opined “fixing of the academic year 2022-23 as the year of implementation of NEP 2020 is baseless”.

The Delhi University released the draft Undergraduate Curriculum Framework 2022 (UGCF-2022) formulated in accordance with the National Education Policy on January 21 and sought feedback from stakeholders.

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Arguing that the changes will dilute the quality of the courses, DU teachers said that it will “institutionalise” short-term contractual jobs and add additional burden to students whose education was already disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

DU Academic Council member Mithuraaj Dhusiya said, "A very sad day in the history of DU as the total number of credits for 4 years have been reduced from 196 to 176. This means that we are staring at massive reduction of existing workload and the consequent displacement of existing ad hoc teachers. Combined with Multiple Entry and Exit System and ABC, we are looking at very turbulent times ahead in DU."

Former Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) treasurer Abha Dev Habib said, “This is the second model adopted in the AC in a short period of six months. This shows that the concept of FYUP resulting in multiple certifications is in itself so faulty that no sensible framework can be designed. Since this model is not as per draft NHEQF, we might be pushed to adopt yet another framework suddenly announced by the UGC.”

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“This restructuring is not our organic need. We see that the new structure passed (of 176 credits), fragments student's time into various domains and increases number of papers to be studied in a semester for fewer credits. FYUP along with MEES and ABC Regulations will lead to huge academic dilution and institutionalise drop-outs and result in short-term teaching jobs,” he said.

The University of Delhi only gave 10 days for the stakeholders to respond to a restructuring. On the feedback mechanism adopted by DU, the Academic Council members said that “No steps were taken to seek feedback from statutory bodies like Committee of Courses, Faculty and Staff Council and other democratic forums like Departmental Council”.

Academic Council members said, “The fixing of the academic year 2022-23 as the year of implementation of NEP 2020 is baseless. We see that the scheme is so faulty that in a year’s time this is the fourth model of FYUP placed by the University for discussion. Further, the UGCF does not follow the framework as stipulated by draft NHEQF.”