Four-year graduation idea out,semester system waits to check into DU

Pental said he expects the Council to agree though the semester proposal had met with stiff opposition before. He said: “Any change is met with resistance at first,but one must understand the new system will increase choices among students. Half-yearly exams will also mean students work throughout the year instead of cramming the syllabus at the last moment.”

In its last meet in October 2008,the Council had asked the VC to gather feedback from teachers and students before taking a final decision. Hence,letters were promptly sent to all colleges. The body of the proposal was also posted on the university’s website.

While several colleges,including the Hindu College had rejected the plan,Pental said students by large had been receptive of the new idea. However,the past shows teachers have not taken too kindly to the proposal. The Delhi University Teachers Association in November slammed the semester system because of the delay in declaring results.

Ratan Lal,a teacher at the Hindu College,pointed out,“At present,with just one annual exam a year,the university has not been able to declare results on time. How will it handle two exams?”

Talking to Newsline,a former member of the Academic Council Rajib Ray said they have not yet discussed the nittygritty of the semester system with the Vice Chancellor. “We have not been given a blueprint and I don’t know how it is going to work. The university is too vast,it has too many courses to be able to implement the system.”

Ray also said the system will be a burden on teachers. However,Pental was quick to deny. He said working days in a year for teachers — nearly 230 — will not be increased. “If teachers honestly involve themselves in the task of teaching and taking examinations,all problems can be solved,” he said.

Pental said the semester system exists in many departments and centres including Physics,Chemistry and Law. Taking it forward at the undergraduate level will not only bring uniformity all over but it will also lead to constant evaluation,he said.