Teachers want DU to hold back on implementation of NEP, seek feedback

On the eve of Delhi University’s academic council meeting on Tuesday, several teachers and AC members raised concerns over the university’s decision to push for reforms advocated in the National Education Policy 2020 and have demanded that the recommendations prepared by the DU-NEP committee be opened up for wider consultations instead of placing them before the council in Tuesday’s meeting. HT Image The Standing Committee on Academic Matters, however, passed agenda on implementation of the four-year undergraduate programme structure with effect from 2022-23 despite opposition from teachers. During the meeting of the standing committee on academic matters on Monday, several AC members raised their voices against the “loss of workload” that may result from the proposed NEP structure. The fixing of the academic year 2022-23 as the year of implementation of NEP 2020 is baseless as first, there needs to be detailed discussion and wider consultation on NEP 2020 among all stakeholders and only then can we determine whether NEP 2020 will be feasible in DU at all.” Another academic council member Ratnesh R Saxena said, “Encouraging blended teaching through provisions of ABC and MOOCS on Swayam Portal in which students can earn 40% of their credits through the online mode and transfer them for their degree would not only drastically reduce the workload of institutions but also create an alternative to classroom teaching.” Teachers also said the MEES will encourage more students to drop out.