The Hindu : Karnataka / Mangalore News : Varsity withdraws semester scheme

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 11, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mangalore

Varsity withdraws semester scheme

By Raviprasad Kamila

MANGALORE, AUG. 10. The Academic Council of Mangalore University in an emergency meeting on Tuesday decided to withdraw the semester scheme introduced for the first year BA, B.Sc., and B.Com degree courses introduced from 2004-05.

The Vice-Chancellor, B. Hanumaiah, presided over the meeting.

K. Sundar Naik, Registrar, told The Hindu that the university would withdraw the semester scheme for this academic year as per the decision of the Academic Council. He said the old syllabus for the degree courses would continue this year. The new syllabi framed for degree courses under the semester scheme had been withdrawn for technical and administrative reasons. A circular in this regard would be sent to all colleges soon.

He said the semester scheme introduced for some degree courses such as Bachelor of Business Management (BBM) last year would continue.

Distance education

The Registrar said that the Academic Council decided that any graduate could enrol themselves for MA and M.Com courses under the distance education programme. Earlier, if a person wanted to pursue M.Com. under the distance education programme, introduced from this year, he should have passed B.Com compulsorily. This condition was removed in the meeting on Tuesday. Hence, any graduate could take up MA and M.Com course under the programme.

Mr. Naik said the university had written to the University Grants Commission (UGC) seeking its clarification on changing the name of Bachelor of Human Resources Development (BHRD) course to BA (HRD).

Decision welcomed

The Association of Mangalore University College Teachers (AMUCT) has welcomed the decision of the Academic Council of Mangalore University to withdraw the semester scheme.

S. Hayavadana Upadhya, association president, told The Hindu that the university should not have introduced the semester scheme in the first place. The university should continue the new syllabus framed for the semester scheme under the annual system this year. The teachers had already taught the new syllabus for the past two months.

Prof. Upadhya said that the association would meet on August 14 in the city to discuss this aspect.

`Continue new syllabus'

The Federation of University and College Teachers' Associations in Karnataka president, A.M. Narahari, told The Hindu the university should go ahead with the new syllabus introduced for the semester scheme under the annual scheme this year. If the old syllabus were to be re-introduced, it would be an injustice to students.

He said: "It is a good decision. I congratulate the university. The university authorities should have taken teachers and students into confidence before taking a decision on the implementation of semester scheme from this academic year."

Prof. Narahari said the syllabus for the Commerce subject was revised in 1995. To be fair to students, the university should continue with the new syllabus. He said that there would not be any technical problem in continuing with the new syllabus.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, B. Hanumaiah, had convened a meeting of students, teachers and other concerned persons recently to know their opinion on the introduction of the semester scheme. A majority of participants had opposed its introduction in its present form.

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