The controversial Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) would be rolled out by all central universities from the coming academic session notwithstanding the protest from a section of teachers and students in Delhi.
While all the universities including Delhi University “unanimously” agreed to its roll out at crucial meet of the VCs held in New Delhi on July 7, a few sought one more year, but eventually agreed to embrace it from the coming academic session.
Benaras Hindu University is planning to implement it in phases in different departments, official sources said.
The meeting was chaired by higher education secretary V.S. Oberoi in the absence of HRD minister SmritiIrani.
Visva-Bharti vice chancellor SushantaDattagupta, who was served a showcause notice last week, stayed away from the meeting.
The meeting came against the backdrop of continued protest by a section of teachers and students of Delhi University, questioning the “legality” of the programme and rejecting the proposed reforms in the education system as a “crackdown on varsities’ autonomy”.
Similar protests were organised by Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) and Federation of Central Universities’ Teachers’ Associations (FEDCUTA) outside the venue of the VC meet in VigyanBhawan.
“All VCs assured that their preparations are complete and they will be starting CBCS this academic session,” said a ministry statement after the meeting.
It added that out of 39 central universities, 37 have introduced CBCS at the post-graduate level. It said that while 13 new central universities do not have under graduate programmes, 18 have already introduced CBCS at this level.
UGC has developed syllabi on 103 subjects, 85 of which are main line courses and 18 are specialised courses, giving 30 per cent choice to the universities to made amendments in the courses.
The next meeting of the VCs are slated in October before the President (the Visitor) reviews the institutes’ performance in November.