DU announces approval of syllabusamidst protest from a section of teachers

Updated on: Friday, April 26, 2013

Delhi University announced the approval of syllabus for courses in Commerce and Mathematical and Applied Sciences even as a section of teachers continued to accuse the varsity of being "undemocratic" in its process.

A statement issued by the university said the faculties for Interdisciplinary and Applied Sciences, Commerce and Mathematical Sciences have approved the syllabus for these courses at their meetings today.

Unhappy with the approved syllabus, a section of teachers continued to cry foul that the departments were following an "undemocratic process to pass these courses under the pressure of the authorities".

Hem Chand Jain, a Commerce Professor in Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, alleged select teachers were asked to prepare the syllabus for Commerce subjects with each paper being structured by a small group of 3-4 teachers.

"The university seems to expect from teachers that they will pass a 200-page syllabus document in one meeting without reading it. This is a mockery of the democratic system," he said.

Jain further alleged several important papers of the current course structure have been dropped for the four-year programme.

"Office management and secretarial practice course, which has been taught for several years, is missing from the syllabus. Also, what is the point of introducing foreign exchange when the paper on international business does not feature in the new curriculum?," he said.

The claims were, however, refuted by Jaiprakash Sharma, the Dean for Faculty of Commerce & Business, who in a statement, said the entire process was democratic with the involvement of most Commerce Teacher-In-Charges (TICs).

"The purpose of the meeting was to invite suggestions, resolutions and proposals from different colleges. Out of 57 TICs, 39 attended the meeting," Jain said in the statement.

He also claimed several meetings with teachers had preceded the meeting today.

Syllabus for several courses including Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Economics and Political Science havealready been approved by their respective departments for the four-year degree programme which will be implemented from this year.

DU announces approval of syllabusamidst protest from a section of teachers

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