4-year undergraduate programme ready for launch: HRD ministry

The HRD ministry on Friday told the Rajya Sabha that the Delhi University (DU) is fully prepared to launch the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP). In a written reply minister of state for HRD, Shashi Tharoorsaid the FYUP has been approved by an overwhelming majority at the Academic Council (AC). 

However, sources said the minister's reply does not mean HRD ministry cannot request the university to put the new programme on hold for a year. "We have received a detailed note from a group of teachers. It is being examined. Apart from various issues, the note also raises some legal questions. It is being examined. The ministry has not made up its mind yet," a source said. 

Leaders of various political parties have also been approached by dissenting teachers and on Thursday many of them attended a public function on the Delhi University (DU) campus against the move torush through the four-year course from this academic session. 

Sitaram Yechury, CPM leader in Rajya Sabha, has also given a notice for calling attention motion on the serious situation arising out of the new proposal in DU that was established by an act of Parliament. He has said FYUP has been introduced against the nation-wide system of 10+2+3. Yechury also met HRD minister M M Pallam Raju on Friday. He told the minister that dissenting teachers are some of the most eminent in their field and would not protest without a valid argument. 

Tharoor's reply reiterated what DU has been claiming about the FYUP. The minister said FYUP aims at imparting holistic knowledge, which cuts across the domains of traditional courses, as well as including skills and value addition. It requires students of all disciplines to undertake certain mandatory courses to meet the needs and challenges of the modern society and the nation.