Semester blues

Updated on: Tuesday, October 18, 2011

After much controversy and debate, the semester system got a green signal from Delhi University (DU) this year and courses were revised. Students will soon take their first semester examinations under the new system. However , Barkatullah Khan, head of geography department, DU, is not in favour of the system and feels that the semester system will put forth many unwarranted challenges for students.

TIME FACTOR

Under the semester system, although classes started on July 15, admissions are still incomplete and colleges are not clear on what they should teach, explains Khan. While clarity on how to go about this system is lacking, exams for the first semester have to be conducted in December. A vacation of 20-25 days prior to exams will mean that neither will teachers have the time required to complete the course, nor will students get enough time to prepare well. Khan insists that had it been the annual mode, while teachers would have adequate time to teach, students would get ample time to prepare themselves.

EXTRA CLASS

The recent implementation of the OBC quota (27%) and the already existing quota for SC/ST and physically challenged students together add up to 50%. According to Khan, most students in the reserved category require special attention. He says that no college has yet conducted extra or special classes for these students, which used to be part of the annual mode - the reason for which is paucity of time. The strength of these students is half of the total student strength, which is a significant number. They are thus bound to suffer in such a system, reasons Khan.

RESULTS

The Delhi University has 71 colleges and 91 departments. With the declaration of results every six months, the workload will more than double, says Khan. This is because there will be more revaluation to be done and it will become difficult for teachers to declare the results on time.

CCA ACTIVITIES

In the annual mode of learning, according to Khan, students got time to participate in co-curricular activities, which is an important area apart from studies where students hone their talent. But, in the semester mode, a handful of cultural programmes have been organised. Also, even if students wish to participate, in doing so, they will have to miss classes. The university has not provided any relaxation on attendance.

"I feel that students are the worst victims of the semester system and not enough is being done for them. Besides, the hurriedly made syllabus of geography for the semester system has resulted in the removal of some vital areas of the subject like topics on human geography components , which are extremely important and contemporary in nature," Khan explains.

"There is need to improve the whole learning process and in my opinion the decision-makers should take a call and revisit this whole issue of semesterisation," he concludes.

Times of India

Semester blues

More Education news