Notwithstanding opposition from the teachers, the Delhi University will implement the semester system from the 2010-11 academic session though only in some departments.

It will right now just be implemented in science and commerce departments, the university said on Thursday.

The university’s academic calendar says that each semester will have classes for 16 weeks. The first semester will start from 21st July and will end by December 10. During this period, students will get mid-semester break and preparation leave for exams. 

DUTA opposes the move

Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) president Aditya Narayan Mishra told Governance Now, “We are not opposed to any proposal but what is in the interest of the university and higher education needs to be discussed. The vice chancellor had in 2009 asked for suggestions from various colleges and departments on this system. But it was never discussed because most of them were against the introduction of the semester system.”

There are 17 faculties, 84 departments and 74 colleges in the university. DUTA says that semester system is not suitable for big universities like DU. This kind of system could easily be applied in closed universities like JNU but not in like ours,” Mishra said.

“Our elected representative in the Academic Council (AC) had also opposed this move last year. But the VC  told the media that it has been passed. But actually he did not even discuss the proposal with them. If he has been saying that he needs suggestions then he should take it too.”

DUTA alleges that Vice Chancellor Deepak Pental is imposing the semester system undemocratically without consulting the important bodies of the University such as Academic Council, Executive Council and DUTA.

Some of the departments that have unanimously rejected the system include English, Economics, Geography, History and Sociology. Some of the reasons given by DUTA for not favoring the system are:

- DU is not fully prepared to handle two examinations under semester system due to lack of infrastructure. Already there are lots of complaints with regard to declaration of results and revaluation under the present system. So how will university ensure timely declaration of results twice a year.

- The semester system does not allow s student to ask for revaluation of his or her paper which is possible under the present system. So it isanti- student

- Semester system in future will encourage privatization in higher education which will destroy the federal system of the university.