Row Over 4-Year Course at Delhi University: Your 10-Point Cheat-Sheet - NDTV

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Cheat Sheet | Edited by Deepshikha Ghosh | Updated: June 23, 2014 10:57 IST

New Delhi: A dispute over the Delhi University's four-year undergraduate programme has left thousands of students confused and uncertain about college admissions in the capital.

The University Grants Commission or UGC has ordered the Delhi University to scrap the four-year programme and revert to the three-year format, but so far, the university has resisted it. The UGC chief is currently meeting Education Minister Smriti Irani.

Here is your 10-point cheat-sheet to the story:

The University Grants Commission (UGC), which controls the funding of central universities, has ordered the Delhi University and its colleges to admit students only under a three-year programme and not the controversial Four Year Undergraduate Programme - or FYUP - that was put in place last year.
Warning of "consequences" if its order is defied, the UGC has given clear directions to the university - revert back to the three-year undergraduate programme and facilitate the migration of the first FYUP batch to the three-year-programme by completing the course in two instead of three years. (UGC Gives Ultimatum to Delhi University over Four-Year Programme)
The Delhi University has refused to budge, saying the four-year course does not violate the education policy as students still have the option to exit after three years, though without an honours degree. (Delhi University Retains FYUP, Only Tweaks a Little Post UGC Directive)
Amid the controversy over the four-year course, the St Stephen's College has announced that it will defer its admission process and other colleges are likely to follow suit.
The row comes as students queue up for college admissions this week. The first cut off list for various courses is set to be released on Monday evening and admissions begin on Tuesday.
Student and teacher bodies in Delhi have been protesting against the four-year programme, which entails a foundation course in the first year. Students begin their honours courses only from the second year, unlike their counterparts in other universities in India.
The change in curriculum has been championed by the Vice-Chancellor of the Delhi University, Dinesh Singh, who believes the new structure introduces a healthy interdisciplinary approach. But teachers say they were not consulted or given enough time to redesign the courses.
Officials said disobeying the UGC direction could leave the Delhi University facing loss of grants and de-recognition.
The BJP had said during its election campaign that it would scrap the four-year programme if it came to power.
The UGC has set up a 10-member committee including teachers and student body leaders to prepare a roadmap for shifting some 60,000 students back to the traditional three-year format.