DU enforcing reforms without enough preparation

Updated on: Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The chaos at Delhi University only seems to worsen. While Delhi University Teachers' Association, which has been on an indefinite relay hunger strike since October 10, plans to intensify its struggle, the university is enforcing reforms without "enough preparation" or consolidation of the semester system.

The vice-chancellor had announced in September that recruitments would begin by October-end, but the process has not been set in motion. Other issues have cropped up, such as the new evaluation procedure requiring three teachers to check one script, inconsistent attendance policies and late declaration of results. Students are upset that requests for re-evaluation will no longer be entertained.

One of the immediate causes of concern is the confusion about the ongoing evaluation process. While the authorities claim supervision of one answerscript by three teachers will rule out any errors, teachers are finding the process rather "cumbersome". Sanjay Bohidar, who teaches economics at Shri Ram College of Commerce, describes the new system as "academic dishonesty". "The university may be using this to do away with re-evaluation but it's important to point out that each answer is still being evaluated by only one teacher. This is neither multiple checking, nor evaluation of the same paper thrice."

He adds that the new system "takes away the academic basis for judging" as you need to read the whole script to get a sense of how much the student has understood. In the new system, "the whole perspective is lost".

"We were asked to form groups of three with two teachers from the same college not allowed in a group. We started checking in that way. We would check a few papers, pass them over and also discuss the answers to ensure we were in sync," says a political science teacher, "It took us two hours to check eight scripts. After that, our group reverted to the old pattern. Each one of us checked the entire paper and just got our colleagues to approve."

The move to dispense with re-evaluation has raised hackles. "We have witnessed major discrepancies in results in the last two years, and now we don't even have a redressal mechanism," says a physics (honours) student from Kirori Mal College.

But the university seems confident. Dean of examinations Roop Lal said, "We are trying our best and there will be no need for re-evaluation." Another thorny issue is the increasing number of vacancies in permanent teaching positions, which have not been filled for over three years. VC Dinesh Singh had said in September that appointments will be fast-tracked to ease the pressure on colleges. Singh could not be contacted for his comments.

Allegations of step-motherly treatment of SOL students continue, as results have either been delayed or are still awaited. As a result, admissions of many PG students have been cancelled. Meanwhile, DUTA has decided to redouble its protests by organizing jan sunwai and marching towards MHRD. DUTA is also planning large-scale mobilization of teachers, students and parents.

DU enforcing reforms without enough preparation

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