Learn from past experience with FYUP, stakeholders say

The last time the Delhi University introduced the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) in 2013, widespread protests swept across the varsity, undergraduate admissions were delayed, and rival groups clashed on the campus in June 2014, leading to injuries to students and teachers. Almost after a year of uncertainty over admissions under the new regime and unprecedented opposition by both students and faculty, the FYUP was scrapped in 2014.

As the university is set to introduce the system from the next academic session, the students of the 2013-14 batch said on Wednesday that it is crucial to draw on past experience ahead of the implementation of the new system.

Former DU V-C Dinesh Singh, who was at the helm when FYUP was last introduced, and a strong votary of the system, appreciated the move on Wednesday. “A lot of hard work went into the implementation of the FYUP during my time. Such ideas are not born in a minute. They are based on many years of experience. I congratulate the academic council of the university for passing the proposal,” said Singh. He gave credit to Dr K Kasturirangan, who is the head of the drafting committee on National Education Policy (NEP), for incorporating the FYUP into the NEP.

A section of DU teachers said it is crucial to ensure that mistakes from the past are not repeated.

Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) treasurer Abha Dev Habib said though the model has been passed, teachers will continue to strive to ensure that a movement is built against the “dilution of the course”.

“Students rejected the idea of FYUP because of the dilution of the first two years of FYUP. We see that the new model once again packs the first two semesters with lukewarm courses. However, we will continue to strive and ensure that past mistakes are not repeated. We will do whatever we can to tweak it or oppose it within the system and beyond,” said Habib.

Manoj Sinha, principal of Aryabhatta College, said unlike the last time, FYUP has been properly debated this time before being brought in.

“This is a plan for the whole country. There is a huge difference between FYUP of 2013 and the one that has been floated now. At this moment, we can’t say if it will fail or pass based on past experience. Last time, we had to plan and decide many things. This time, planning has been done by experts at a much larger scale,” said Sinha.

Mahamedha Nagar, who was enrolled in English (Hons) at

Miranda House in the first batch of FYUP students, recalled that her first year of graduation was a messy affair. “Our classes would extend till 5-6 pm since we had a number of foundation courses. These foundation courses were often unrelated and disconnected from the core programmes that we had due to which many students didn’t see any merit in these courses. As an English (Hons) student, I was not interested in taking up Mathematics or science courses, but as part of the FYUP batch, I had to study for my main subjects in addition to foundation classes in Maths and computers in the evening hours,” said Nagar.

Like the 2013 foundation courses,the mandatory courses introduced in the first year this time include papers on environmental science, ethics and culture, social and emotional learning. Teachers said it was only repackaged and will not benefit students like 2013.