Internal assessment system at the UG level to be reviewed by DU

Updated on: Monday, December 10, 2012

Delhi University is going to review its internal assessment system at the undergraduate level. This was part of a series of decisions taken at the third meeting of the 61-member task force set up the university to steer reforms on Friday.

Among the proposals were the introduction of a district institute of education and training (DIET) equivalent two-year course for teacher education along with the four-year-degree programme. These and a few other issues like syllabus preparation for the new system and structure of courses were discussed. It was suggested that there should be two research papers at the undergraduate level and that college teachers should be entrusted with the responsibility of preparing the courses.

The task force accepted the proposal to review the internal assessment system, which has been an issue of concern in the university community for some time now. Internal assessment is crucial as it comprises of 25 marks in each paper and is divided into three components - assignments, project report/class tests and attendance in the ratio of 10, 10 and 5 marks, respectively.

Virender Bhardwaj, a member of the academic council and the task force, proposed the review. "The task force has also agreed to my proposal to replace internal assessment with a system like making the students give a presentation in the classroom."

Introducing a two-year course for teacher education, which is not part of the four-year-degree programme, was also discussed. This programme is to be run separately by interested colleges for aspiring teachers.

On the four-year-degree course structure, the members were of the view that the honours component of the courses will be introduced right in the first year of study in the form of a major. In all, during the four-year of study, the students will need to complete 20 to 24 majors and six to eight minors (i.e other subjects). The task force also suggested two research papers as part of the eighth semester.

Another crucial suggestion of the task force, which is likely to be a part of its final report, is that college teachers will be entrusted with the task of preparing the courses. "At present, the departments of the university initiate preparation of the courses and syllabi. But it has been a view in the task force that since the college teachers will be working at ground zero, the responsibility will be on them to initiate the process," said Bhardwaj.

The task force is likely to submit its suggestions to the university administration by end of December before these are placed before the academic and executive councils for final approval.

Internal assessment system at the UG level to be reviewed by DU

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