UGC order leaves DU's current batch of FYUP course confused

New Delhi: The UGC direction asking Delhi University to scrap the four year university programme (FYUP) has finally seemed to have given an ending to a long struggle by both left and right wing student unions. NSUI, student wing of the Congress party, which was silent on the issue from the very beginning as the programme is being one of the key projects of Kapil Sibal, has also started protesting. The congress student union has held a demonstration at the Delhi University campus seeking clarity from the university authority on the issue.[caption id=“attachment_1584467” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Confusion over FYUP course. AFP[/caption] As the the UGC has sent a notice to the DU giving it only a day to scrap the FYUP, it seems the Delhi University will be left with little option but to crush the programme which from the very beginning has invoked extreme reactions. However, while various students’ unions, like ABVP or DUSU were celebrating the UGC move as a recognition of their struggle, there was hardly anyone who took notice of the students who are going to be impacted by this programme and the culling of it. The FYUP, which copied the graduation model in the American universities had very less willing takers when it was introduced in the Delhi university. “What is the point of having an extra year in the curriculum when rest of the country will still be graduating after only three years? It only delayed our chances of finishing education and moving on either towards a job or higher courses,” says Sourav Dikshit, a second year student. Now after being in implementation for one year, the rolling back of the programme has led to further confusion among students who were already in the FYUP. Even though there is a clear notice from UGC regarding the rolling back of the programme at the beginning of the upcoming session, the future of the already running programme is in serious doubt. The FYUP has caused further stir among the students because of its founding courses. Twelve subjects are mandatorily taught to students of any stream under this programme. “I am a Political Science student and why should I waste my time studying Commerce and Mathematics and Life Science?” asked Pragun Vasisth, a student who just graduated this year from Delhi’s Ramjas college? “It’s only stupid and a wastage of time. Even though I did not have to be under that programme, it’s just just killing education,” said Vasisth. A large section of the students who are already in the programme now wants the existing programme to roll back too. “If they roll it back this year, it means the freshers and students of my batch will get their honours degree in the same year. Why for no reason are we going to waste an extra year?” Said Sanjivan Mehrotra, another student. However, the teachers concerned with the issue, assure that at the same time the already existing programme will also be restructured. “The honours papers has to be taught in the second and third year. So that the students who are already under FYUP can finish their course and get a degree at the end of three years,” says Nandita Narain, a professor in Delhi’s St Stephen’s college, who has been vehemently opposing the FYUP since the very beginning.