Delhi University department not to revise syllabi for semesterised courses

Going against the varsity administration, a general body meeting of Delhi University's department of Economics today decided against framing syllabi for the proposed semesterisation of its courses.
   
At a well-attended meeting, all but two or three teachers agreed that they would not do their bit in revising the syllabi to send out a message to the administration, said a teacher after the meeting.
   
The decision comes at a time when the University administration and the teachers are embroiled in a major dispute over the semesterisation of courses with the latter protesting against what they call an "authoritarian" way of implementation.
   
The teachers protesting under the banner of the Joint Action Body (JAB) are also planing to observe a
'Jashn-e-Azadi' meeting on Friday against the administration.
   
They said the Friday meeting comes in the face of intensifying attacks by the DU Administration on democratic practices and the freedom to think, speak, protest and dissent at DU, attacks that threaten to maul education and suck the life-breath out of our University.
   
It is to be noted that the the Delhi High Court which is hearing a plea in this regard has asked the teachers not to go for any kind of protest till the matter is under court's consideration.
   
At an Academic Council meeting last week the Vice Chancellor was given the power to approve the courses that are yet to be approved by the respective committees and departments.
   
"We are not trade unions. We are teachers who have strived to keep the standards of the University high and we should not be bypassed," said Prof Nandita Narain of JAB.