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Delhi University seeks support for semester system

The attempt by Delhi University (DU) and its faculty members to resolve the deadlock over the semester system through mediation has failed. The university has already announced the exam dates for 13 science courses, in which semester system has been introduced.

The university has gone a step forward and got the information published in the newspapers so that a clearu00a0 message is passed on to students and their parents. The semester exams for all the courses will start on November 20 and end on December 10 according to the revised syllabi.

DU Vice Chancellor Deepak Pental said, "There is a lot of confusion and students in some of the colleges are still unclear about the pattern being followed. While the semester system has been started in many colleges, some teachers influenced by Delhi University Teachers' Association have been obstructing the implementation of the system. So we thought that it would be appropriate to give a public notice in the newspapers."

Earlier the Delhi High Court had asked DUTA not to restrain any of the teachers who volunteer to associate themselves with the preparation of the new time table in their respective colleges, keeping in mind the future of students. The court further said DU can take legal recourse against the teachers if they did not participate in preparing the time-table as the classes were yet to start.

Reacting on the notice DUTA President, Aditya Narayan Mishra said, "Announcement of examination dates is a desperate act on the part of the VC. We would not allow it to happen. He has violated the statutes of the Delhi University. This is a one man campaign and by doing all this he is wasting public money. We will surely write to the visitor about this and the ministry must also take some action on this."

"Today we had a big demonstration outside his office. On August 23 and 24, we are going on strike. However, we will decide on further plans in the general meeting scheduled on August 31," Mishra added.

The university has also asked to report the names of those who are obstructing implementation of the semester system. "Complaints about non-implementation of semester based teaching will be given to the Principal and to the University," the notice further said.

The revised syllabi for the thirteen semester based science courses have also been uploaded on the university's website.

Thirteen courses for which the examination dates were announced
>>u00a0B.Sc (H) Zoology
>> B.Sc (H) Anthropology
>> B.Sc (H) Microbiology
>> B.Sc (H) Chemistry
>> B.Sc (H) Electronics
>> B.Sc (H) Nursing
>> B.Sc (H) Botany
>> B.Sc (H) Biochemistry
>> B.Sc (H) Biomedical Sciences
>> B.Sc (H)Physics
>> B.Sc (H) Geology
>> B.Sc Life Sciences
>> B.Sc Physical Sciences