JNU may open its gates to fachchas

The "elders" at the Jawaharlal Nehru University may soon have to make room for "toddlers". If a proposal by the University Chancellor Yash Pal gets ratified by the executive council, the institution, known for its research-oriented post-graduate programmes, would open its gates for undergrads.

Presently, the prestigious university runs undergraduate courses in foreign languages only. Prof Yash Pal, an eminent scientist, pushed for an expansion into undergraduate courses at the university court meeting in January and JNU's executive council is expected to meet this month to discuss the proposal. University insiders told MiD DAY that the proposal was under "active consideration".

If JNU opens its gates to the undergrads, it would be a huge boost to the admission aspirants in Delhi where each year thousands of students have to face stiff competition at various colleges of the Delhi University.
JNU vice-chancellor BB Bhattacharya could not be reached for a comment.

However, the students are taking the move with a pinch of salt. Some sections in the university are opposed to the move, fearing the university might lose its edge in research if the focus shifts to undergraduate education.
Ashish Kumar, a PhD student of JNU, said, "JNU is a community of learning that is enriched by the wide variety of experiences and perspectives of its students, faculty and staff. We have got some well-known courses. I doubt if the new undergrad courses are started, the standards will remain same."

"JNU is ranked high among universities in India and also among Asian institutes of higher studies. The requirement for the undergraduate courses are very different from what the institution is offering now. We do not have adequate infrastructure to accommodate students in the new courses," said one of the professors at JNU, wishing anonymity. But education experts believe that this move will help students who fail to make it to the Delhi University.