Protest semester mode for undergraduate courses; students suffer

DU teachers strike a blow

Protest semester mode for undergraduate courses; students suffer

Stir-red: DU teachers have been on consistent strike against semester
system. file pic

"It has been a strike season since August and it feels like vacations. Initially we were all enjoying the situation, but now it has dragged on for too long. Empty classrooms are not an enjoyable sight anymore. I have plans to make a short trip home as there are no classes for a while," said Jai Bisla, a second year B. Sc student at Kirorimal College.

Though the strike is not complete as a few ad hoc teachers are turning up for classes, Science students are getting a raw deal.

"The DUTA strike and the semester debate have created a lot of confusion for us. We are in a fix and don't know where to go. It's a complete wastage of time and resources, coming down to college from far off and not having classes. Whatever goes on in the university, the worst part is that students have to pay a price," said a disappointed Pia Mathews, a final year Life Sciences student at Lady Shri Ram College.

Most colleges bear a deserted look owing to the ongoing strike. However, there are a few teachers who have been taking lectures, but not necessarily in the classes. "We have suffered a lot due to the DUTA strike. So, in order to deal with the situation a few teachers are taking lectures on certain days," said Nishant Sharma, final year Maths (Hons) student at Hansraj College.u00a0u00a0

"Various action programmes are going on in the University; it's a situation of complete crisis. The implementation of the semester system is a violation of the statute and section 30 and 31 of the University Calendar. We don't recognise Pental as the Vice-Chancellor of anymore. We are committed enough to compensate the students for their loss of studies," said DUTA president Aditya Narayan Mishra.

The Vice-Chancellor's office is under attack since the semester drive began.

"I don't believe in what the DUTA says. All the things they claim are just lies. A handful of so-called DUTA activists have initiated this strike in the name of the entire teaching faculty. They just want power in the University without any accountability. Why has no one talked about colleges like Stephens, Miranda House, Venketeshwara and others who are already following the semester model? Why are they taking their salaries without teaching, which is a bigger crime? I am just doing my duty and DUTA is nobody to challenge it," said Deepak Pental, Vice-Chancellor, Delhi University.

SOLUTION SEEKERS
Delhi high court had put the ball in DUSU's court to resolve the semester row between the DU authorities and teachers. But with a divided house, the last DUSU panel could achieve little progress. The new office-bearers, however, have shown the willingness to set things right. Making the right noises immediately after winning the elections, ABVP's successful candidates made it clear that the problem was not with the semesters, but the way the new system has been implemented.
ABVP's State secretary Ashutosh Srivastava said: "We are not against semesters or any academic reforms. But we would like the DU authorities to take the opinion of students and their representatives as well."

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