LU admin, teachers not on same page over implementation of CMS

LUCKNOW: The stalemate between Lucknow University administration and teachers over implementation of Common Minimum Syllabus(CMS) continues amidst efforts to introduce National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 from the upcoming academic year.

Officials said the discussion on implementation of the CMS was currently being held among various faculty boards of the LU.

“The Science department, one of the largest departments in the LU, has already rejected the proposal placed at the faculty board meeting held recently,” said an official.

Moreover, the faculty board meeting of Arts department is scheduled on Friday and according to sources, the motion to adopt the CMS is likely be declined.

The teachers at the university had been opposing the implementation after the higher education department of the state in April directed all state universities to include at least 70% content of the CMS with relaxation to include 30 % content of their own.

As per the plan, the CMS was to be cleared by all state universities so that it could be implemented in upcoming academic session.

LU teachers assert that the CMS is neither up to mark nor the way it is being implemented is legal.Vineet Verma of Lucknow

University Teachers Association (LUTA) said. “As per rule, universities are free to decide and implement their own syllabus. This right of universities will be taken away if CMS is implemented because the government has no right to decide the syllabus, let alone impose it on universities.”

However, the LU administration has expressed confidence that the CMS can be adopted with minor changes.

“The concerns of teachers are valid but there is possibility to make 30% changes in the CMS. I still believe that if healthy discussions are conducted on the syllabus prescribed in form of CMS it can be adopted along with changes,” said LU VC Alok Kumar Rai.