4-yr UG programmes: 'Hasty pursuit' for NEP implementation in Kerala raises eyebrows

Thiruvananthapuram: The curriculum workshop for the college and university teachers in the state witnessed stiff opposition against the alleged hasty pursuit towards the implementation of four-year undergraduate programmes.  

The National Education Policy, 2020 suggested four-year undergraduate programmes with multiple entry and exit options for the students. However, teachers’ and students’ unions batted that the existing curriculum should be revised only after conducting detailed discussions.

Several teachers slammed the Kerala State Higher Education Council for being in haste to launch the National Education Policy. Following this, Minister for Higher Education R Bindu maintained that a final decision will be taken only after considering the opinions raised at the curriculum workshop. 

KPCTC president Dr Umar Farooq said that the current facilities are inadequate to switch to a research-oriented syllabus in the fourth year of the undergraduate programme as proposed by the NEP. 

Meanwhile, SFI accused that the discussions associated with curriculum reforms are always centered on teachers through novel proposals being introduced. 

According to the NEP, the students can exit the courses after the first, second or third year. However, the Kerala government had asserted that the exit will be allowed only after completing at least three years.