Grades instead of divisions, no failing: DU’s plan for 4-yr courses

Students of the four-year undergraduate programme in Delhi University might see an overhaul of the evaluation system with a grading system replacing the existing division system.

While the task force on redefining education, constituted for the four-year undergraduate programme, is still deliberating on the evaluation method, there is growing support for introducing a grading system.

However, for the proposals of the task force to come into force, it will need the approval of the DU statutory bodies.

Under the existing system of evaluation, a student's score is division-based — depending on the percentage of marks.

"The grading system will have an in-built conversion mechanism. The idea is to reduce this jostling for marks and the unhealthy competitive environment it creates," a senior DU official said.

The DU administration is also considering if it can to do away with "failing" students in four year undergraduate programmes.

But, if a student wants to take the exit option after two or three years, their aggregate score should meet a minimum pass aggregate.

The criteria for allotting subjects as minor discipline will be decided by colleges based on the performance of the student in the first two semesters, the official said.

Under the four-year programme, apart from the major discipline in which the student is admitted, he/she can can opt a minor discipline, which will not be restricted to a particular stream.

This means that a student who has taken admission in History (Honours), can opt for a science or commerce subject as a minor discipline.

A re-examination of the internal assessment system has also been called for.

According to the existing internal assessment system, five marks are given to attendance while the remaining are allotted to class tests and assignments. In the four-year system, marks will not be given for attendance, although a minimum attendance criteria for appearing for examination will be in place.

"Twenty marks will be allotted to presentations and five to class participation," the official said. According to the proposed structure, students will have to study 11 "foundation course" over a duration of four semesters.

These will include two papers in languages — English, Hindi and other modern Indian languages. With the emphasis on inter- and trans-disciplinarity, the university will also offer foundation papers in science, history, environment and public health, psychology, IT, business and entrepreneurship, governance and citizenship, geography and social development as well as mathematics.

Four application-based papers, including English and Hindi, will also be designed and will be taught from the second semester.

Even though marks will not be given to students for sports and other extra-curricular activities, some degree of relaxation in attendance might be offered.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/grades-instead-of-divisions-no-failing-du-s-plan-for-4yr-courses/1073740/0

Narendra Modi protest: Students allege molestation

A day after police used lathis and water cannons to disperse students protesting against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Shri Ram College of Commerce in Delhi University, several woman students complained they were molested and verbally abused by students who tried to stop them from protesting.

Police have received several complaints of harassment and molestation and are looking into the allegations. Students claimed they were molested by "miscreants" and that police personnel at the spot did nothing to stop them. They said policemen looked on while rival groups hurled abuses at them.

Reached for comments, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Sindhu Pillai said: "We have received complaints and are looking into it. I was there at the spot with other senior officers. No one reported to me or other senior officials about any such incident. The press was also there right at the spot. We are conducting an inquiry into the complaints."

Meanwhile, a case of rioting has also been registered against unidentified persons at the Maurice Nagar police station. The FIR states that around 3 pm on Wednesday, more than 100 people marched towards SRCC, protesting against Modi's visit. It is alleged that students, who had been asked to conduct a peaceful protest, turned violent, broke a barricade and marched towards Gate No. 3 of SRCC.

"Those people used force to break the first barricade. The wooden sticks of placards were used to beat up police officials. A warning was given to protesters and they were asked to withdraw but they continued to be violent. The students managed to march towards the second barricade and water cannon was opened for 30 seconds," the FIR states.

The students, on the other hand, demanded suspension of the Maurice Nagar SHO. A group also staged a demonstration outside the police headquarters on Thursday to protest against the alleged "high-handed" attitude of the police.

According to the protesters, the police instead of protecting those detained, dragged them through a crowd of ABVP activists.

Kopal Pokal, a member of the SFI who was outside the SRCC on Wednesday, said: "I don't think policemen have learnt how to deal with protesters. They need to be gender sensitized. They dragged us from the barricades and took us through a crowd of ABVP members who hurled abuses at us, called us 'besharam aurat' and 'deshdrohi'. Even the police personnel were laughing and jeering at us."

The police told eight protesters whom they had detained to leave once Modi left the campus. But they marched to the police station and demanded that their complaints be registered. "We demanded that the police identify those who were abusing us and those police personnel who led us to the mob. Several TV cameras captured it. Why don't they use that as evidence," Piyush Raj, a member of AISA, said.

Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/narendra-modi-protest-students-allege-molestation/1071240/0

Narendra Modi visit rocks DU: Jeers outside and cheers inside

Narendra Modi's visit to the Shri Ram College of Commerce turned one end of Delhi University into a protest zone on Wednesday and police used water cannons and lathis to disperse students protesting against the Gujarat Chief Minister.

Waving black flags and shouting anti-Modi slogans, students led by Left-wing organisations assembled near SRCC and tried to get past police barricades on the stretch to the college from Patel Chest Institute. The students clashed with police after they got past the first barricade. Police resorted to a lathicharge and turned on the water cannons to break up the protest.

"We were told that some student organisations were planning to hold demonstrations. Barricades were put up to restrain the crowd," DCP (North) Sindhu Pillai said. "Water cannons were used only for a minute or so. The crowd broke through first barricade and was trying to break the second one too. We had to take steps to restrain them."

Piyush Raj of the All India Students' Association said: "We were protesting peacefully when some students tried to climb over the police barricades. I moved to the front to pacify by the crowd. I also told the police that we were trying to keep the protest peaceful. But I was pulled down from the barricade and detained by police."

Sunny Kumar, among the protesters on the street, said: "It is a shame that a person under whose leadership the Gujarat riots took place is being allowed to use the legitimacy of academic spaces like Delhi University for his prime ministerial ambitions. Progressive democratic voices in Delhi cannot let this happen, so we are protesting."

But if there were anti-Modi protests outside SRCC, the crowd inside was rooting for the man. Students applauded, cheered Modi each time he paused after making a point. He shook hands and posed for photographs with students. SRCC student Preeti Mohan said Modi's speech was "inspiring" and an "eye-opener".

"We didn't know details of the kind of work being done in Gujarat. The texts we study are so restrictive. The highlight of his speech was when he demonstrated how the state's focus on agriculture can help put the country on the growth track," she said.

Responding to queries on why SRCC invited Modi to a college event, principal P C Jain said: "In all honesty, I want to say that we sent out invitations to 11 persons. Narendra Modi's office was the first one to reply to our invitation."

However, there are speculations whether Vishwa Hindu Parishad will endorse Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as BJP's prime ministerial candidate at the Maha Kumbh.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/narendra-modi-visit-rocks-du-jeers-outside-and-cheers-inside/1070436/0