Move aims to make a uniform policy across universities; students and academicians call the step anti-student
All degree students will henceforth get only two extra years to complete their programmes, says the latest directive of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the apex regulator for higher education.
The UGC has directed all state universities to make a uniform time period for completion of any higher education course. Under this, students will get two extra years to complete their course and qualify for a degree. Universities can give relaxation of one more year in exceptional cases, says the notification dated October 15. Currently, the time limit to complete the under-graduation programme varies from university to university.
This virtually means that all BA, BCom, BSc and students of other three-year programmes will get total five years to complete the course if they are unable to pass within three years. The circular talks about two extra years for all courses (N+2), which means that even PG students will get the same benefit.
"The commission has observed that universities across the country adopt varying span periods within which a student may be allowed to complete a programme… In order to evolve a uniform policy, the commission had constituted an expert committee," states the UGC circular.
The directive has put students in a fix. "This is an anti-student and anti-democratic decision. No student wants to waste years. If anybody fails to clear exams, there are genuine reasons behind it which are beyond their control. Will all such students have to forgo their dreams of higher education forever," asks a student from Mumbai, who is set to appear for his BCom final exam next year after a gap of five years due to family constraints.
"I had to leave my education in the middle as my father passed away. I took up a clerical job to support my family. Now I wish to complete the degree to grow in my career," he says.
The change will affect women students more, feel academicians. "Many a times girls are married off in the middle of the course. Some of them leave education due to family compulsions or pregnancy. These women will be left behind with such harsh rules," says a Mumbai University professor.
Student unions are up in arms. Ajay Tapkeer, a leader from Prahar students organisation, says: "This decision is unwarranted. Will a student not be allowed to complete education if s/he meets with an accident or faces some other personal problem and leaves towards the fag end of the extended time period? Does the UGC think that the purpose of education is to get a job and not knowledge?"
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}