New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Sunday issued another directive to the varsity to revert undergraduate to the three-year course and asked for a compliance report by forenoon on Monday.
UGC told DU that any deviation from the directive shall be “deemed to be in contravention of the UGC Act, with its consequences”. This is the second directive by UGC on scrapping Four Year Undergraduate Programme in the past few days. The previous one was sent on Friday.
Sources said, “There will be serious costs for the DU administration if it defies the government. Top university officials should not play with the future of students any longer and not turn an issue of public interest into a private battle.”
The latest move of UGC had hardly leaves any room for defiance by the university.
DU vice-chancellor Dinesh Singh was expected to make a statement on the development at the executive council meeting on Monday. However, late on Sunday evening, the varsity administration postponed the meeting, said sources.
The commission intends to cover all flanks. Sources said it has an action plan ready in the event of the university not falling in line by Monday forenoon.
UGC sent letters on Sunday to the principals of DU’s 70-odd colleges, asking them to strictly follow the three-year under-graduate course. Principals have been told that “any deviation or contravention shall be viewed seriously by UGC and may attract action under the UGC Act including withdrawal of grant to the college”. UGC staff delivered the directive to each college principal by hand
The commission has also decided to issue a public notice to be carried by newspapers on Monday. In it, students and parents will be informed that “FYUP is not in consonance with the National Policy on Education, 1986 and the 10+2+3 structure envisaged under it”.
The notice says DU did not follow procedures prescribed in the DU Act while switching to FYUP and asked students to take admission only in three-year courses.
The notice was issued by the UGC chairperson and it also says that a standing committee is being set up to advise DU on the migration back from FYUP to the three-year undergraduate programme so that students “do not lose an academic year for obtaining undergraduate degrees, and for this purpose, ensure that students acquire necessary academic and other competence during the next two years.”
Bureau Report
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