Students, teachers start signature campaign against DU's 4-year course

New Delhi: A signature campaign was today launched by a group of students and teachers of Delhi University to oppose the “hasty” implementation of the four-year graduation programme. About 750 signatures were collected on the petition ‘Save Delhi University Campaign’ addressed to the Prime Minister opposing the decision of a new 4-year course taken by DU authorities “without wider debate and discussion”. “In a matter of two hours, 750 signatures were collected on the petition. We plan to take the signature campaign systematically among university students, teachers, school students, parents and concerned citizens,” Abha Dev Habib, Member of Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA), said. As part of the Campaign a dedicated website has also been launched which will host critiques of the 4-year programme prepared by various sections of teachers and news reports. You can go the website here. [caption id=“attachment_681894” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational Image. AFP[/caption] The new four-year course which will be implemented this year has been receiving much criticisms from teachers and students who fear the programme will affect the careers of lakhs of students and also lead to fee hikes, privatisation and dilution of the comprehensive character of education. In the new system, there will be 11 foundation courses such as Modern Indian Language, Information Technology, Business Entrepreneurship and Management, Communication Skills, Geography, History Culture and Civilisation, Environment and Public Health which are compulsory for students of all disciplines and will be taught in the first two years. PTI