OF COURSE I am referring to the University Grants Commission’s (UGC’s) advice to universities to adopt a choice-based credit system. It has said that students enrolled for a particular programme or course would be free to opt and earn elective credits within their university and even in another institution. UGC chairperson Sukhdeo Thorat has written to vice-chancellors (VCs) of central, state and deemed universities, asking them to adopt the recommendations of the ‘A Gnanam Committee’ on academic and administrative reforms.

These include introducing the semester system, examination reforms and inter-institution credit and facilitating transfer of students. Importantly, UGC has linked implementation of these measures with grants. UGC has also asked the varsities to introduce the Choice-based Credit System (CBCS), which will facilitate part-completion of an academic programme in the institution of enrolment and part-completion in a specialised institution.

The committee has also said all academic programmes like certificate, diploma, under-graduate, post-graduate, M Phil and Ph D should be subject to upgrade or revision to a limited extent every academic year and substantially every three years. This advice has not come a day too soon. We at Merinews brought to the notice of our readers (vide, “Bangalore University: Where ignorance is bliss”) how a repealed legislation is still being taught as part of the syllabus to students pursuing the degree course in business management of Bangalore University; how the authors of the prescribed text book too are blissfully ignorant of the fact and have been misleading the students for years (mind you, some of the authors who have penned books on the subject are doctorates!).

Had the BBM course been reviewed and revised as has been suggested by the UGC now, this blunder would not have been committed. Additionally, since teachers are supposed to equip the students, the builders of the India of tomorrow, it should be ensured that the said teachers stay up-to-date with respect to the subject they have specialised in. In my experience, most of the teachers perhaps knew the subject once; the more experienced amongst them are more hollow in terms of the knowledge of the subject. Their intellectual asset has depreciated over the years with the result that in some cases, the book value of the intellectual asset, so to speak, has turned negative. Why does this happen? It is because once the teacher concerned acquires a Ph D, he or she is assured of a higher pay scale and a higher status.

None dares to question the doctorate, least of all the students! It is necessary therefore to ensure that even the qualified teachers periodically upgrade their knowledge of the subject. This can be done by administering the relevant tests to them once in three years. Something of this kind is in force in the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in respect of scientists. If the teachers fail the test, he or she should be warned and provided another chance to upgrade his/her knowledge shortly. If he/she fails again, he/she should be demoted and barred from teaching post-graduate students. UGC should link implementation of this measure also with its grant to universities.

While on the subject, let me bring to the notice of Merinews readers, another blunder committed by Bangalore University in respect of the syllabus it has framed for M Com students. M Com III semester students, choosing specialisation in finance under Group-II can choose ‘Commodity Markets-I (called F.3)’ and ‘Commodity Markets-II (called F.6)’. What is the syllabus like in respect of F.3 and F.6? Both contain five modules and but for the first module, the remaining modules are the same in both the cases! An innovative way indeed of framing the syllabus – par for the course, perhaps, as far as Bangalore University is concerned!

But then it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good. Shortly after I penned the article “Bangalore University: Where ignorance is bliss,” for the benefit of Merinews readers, I addressed an e-mail Dr Prabhudev, VC of Bangalore University, to bring the matter to his notice. I had the presence of mind, fortunately, to use his personal as well as official ID for the purpose. Expectedly, the e-mail addressed to his official ID bounced back but the other one reached him. The VC promptly replied back to me saying that he would take up the matter with the people concerned and get back to me. I join Merinews readers in thanking the VC sincerely and profusely.