DUB Speak

Is it too late to roll back the FYUP?

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With the new party taking over the Human Resource Development ministry, chances are that the controversial four year undergraduate program installed by the University of Delhi might be scrapped. Sources have it, that the HRD ministry is already working out a way so as to incorporate the 4 year program into a 3 year one. BJP had already given hints last year that it might rollback the controversial programme as soon as it comes to power at the centre and it had been included in their manifesto as well.

Last year, there had been much protest when the program set in and it could have been easily removed if such an action would have been brought at the same time. But if FYUP would be scrapped now, it will pose a major threat to students currently enrolled in the existing Four Year batch. Not only will they have to do away with the Foundation courses, which they have already studied in their 1st year, additional disciplinary courses would also have to be incorporated into their syllabus for the next 2 years. Which would in turn mean that a student currently enrolled under FYUP would have to study 6 DC courses per semester. That’s a 3 time increase when compared to the existing burden.

It should also be noted that during the pre poll time period, the BJP had promised that if FYUP wouldn’t be scrapped, they’ll incorporate training and internships in the last year so that it might not go wasted.  Another proposal which may bring down the burden on students has been given by Delhi University Teacher’s Association (DUTA), in which, by doing away with the 2 Foundation Courses, 2 more Disciplinary Courses (DCs) will be added along with the existing DCs in the 3rd and 4th semester. Such a move will incorporate the whole program into 3 years. Seeing the scenario, it seems a better option than scrapping the whole program since a year has already passed.

De Facto, if one may recall, the protests against FYUP were not due to its 4 year term but due to the hurriedly introduced Foundation Courses which many termed as ‘elementary school level’ subjects. But since the new ministry is planning to scrap the whole program, it seems that students will have to suffer the consequential burden. But there are other reasons which might pose a problem in the scrapping of FYUP. The Bachelors of Science (B.Sc.) program which had been changed into Bachelors of Technology (B.Tech.) requires a minimum of 4 years to serve a B.Tech. degree. If the whole program is scrapped, then the above course will also have to be reverted back into its original form, which would simply mean playing with the future of the students currently studying for a degree in Bachelors of Technology.

To top it all, the University Grants Commission is already putting pressure on the university to either scrap the FYUP programme or the Honours degree it is giving under the old 3 year semester mode through the School of Open Learning. Since the UGC’s rules require a university to give only 1 type of degree, either SOL will have to start giving degrees for only certificate courses or DU will have to do away with the FYUP programme.

Whatever happens next would be significantly life changing for the students currently enrolled under FYUP. I hope the new government takes a step which might not hamper the future prospects of these students.

is a sophomore pursuing Political Science (H) from SGTB Khalsa College. A graduate in Indian Classical Music and a seasoned MUNer, Anchor and Compére, he also has an interest in writing poetry. He has been working as a compére for Athletic Federation of India and is a guest columnist for a multi - state daily. A partisan of astrophysics, he thinks that our perceptions shape our realities and that a reality for one might not be for another. It's a world full of semblance, he believes. Link to his blog on Poetry: brijpahwapoetry.blogspot.in

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