New Delhi, April 20: Delhi University teachers, opposing the introduction of semester system, today submitted to the Vice Chancellor a letter signed by as many as 2,650 students in their support, in a display of a wide ranging opposition to the system overhaul.
The teachers, protesting under the banner of the ‘Joint Action Body’ against the semester system, once again spelled out their serious differences with the administration, and said the University was trying to impose a new system through “intimidation” and at “gun point”.
The letter by the students addressed to Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh said the current system of assessment and studies gave them time and space for in-depth understanding and that they expressed “unequivocal” support
for the teachers who are opposing the semester system.
“In imposing the semester system, the University is trying to curb legitimate protests and is trying to instill fear through brazen intimidation and threats of punitive action against teachers who are asking questions,” said Prof Mukul Mangalik of Ramjas college at a press conference.
He said this would do harm to the spirit of debate and argument that generally prevails in institutions of learning, citing the recent showcause notice to teachers of the English department who had resigned from non-statutory committees in protest against the department head not convening a meeting of the council.
The teachers argued that only the division of the academic year into two assessments without supplementing the structure through additional infrastructure will do nothing good to the system.
“It is like giving away the benefits of our Hons courses without gaining anything in return,” Prof P K Vijayan said.
A Science professor said that students would certainly miss out on summer trainings under the semester mode as the examination would end only by June when the trainings windows have all but closed.
“This will be a major loss to the technical training exercise that our students in Physics undergo. They have made repeated representations before the administration but have got no response,” he said.
The teachers said a huge resource crunch would befall upon the University in the absence of a prepared set up to handle the semester system.
Prof Nandita Narain of the JAB said the group was holding wide-ranging consultations, including with students, and have also met parliamentarians in their bid to defuse the situation and get their voice heard.
——–PTI