In a significant move to enhance the quality of undergraduate education, Calcutta University has proposed major academic reforms, including a compressed examination schedule and increased classroom teaching hours. This initiative was unveiled during the university's first syndicate meeting chaired by the new permanent Vice-Chancellor, Ashutosh Ghosh, on Thursday.
Addressing the Academic Calendar Crisis
The university has established a dedicated committee to formalize this proposal, which directly tackles a persistent problem faced by affiliated colleges. Since the introduction of the semester system—in 2017 for arts and in 2018 for science streams—colleges have struggled to cover the entire syllabus within the limited available time. This is primarily due to a prolonged examination roster that disrupts the academic flow for all students, even those not currently taking exams.
A syndicate member highlighted the severity of the issue, pointing out a vast gap between the mandated and actual classroom hours. While UGC guidelines require at least 90 days of classes per UG semester, colleges under Calcutta University manage to hold only an average of 30-35 days of classes each semester. This chronic shortage has started to significantly impact the standard of education.
Proposed Solutions for Syllabus Completion
The core of the proposed reform involves a radical restructuring of the exam calendar. One key suggestion is to consolidate all odd-semester examinations on a single day and all even-semester exams on another. This would allow classes to continue simultaneously across different batches, drastically reducing academic losses.
"It's high time to make some reforms to restore our past glory," a syndicate member stated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. The absence of a strict academic calendar has been a major hurdle, with students attending a limited number of classes due to overlapping exam schedules, a practice that principals agree needs immediate reformation.
Furthermore, the meeting explored innovative ways to reclaim lost instructional time. Officials discussed utilizing vacation periods to conduct make-up classes. The practice, already common in most government colleges, was proposed to be extended to aided colleges as well to compensate for learning deficits.
Broader Reforms: Faculty and Staff Recruitment
Beyond the academic schedule, the syndicate meeting also addressed critical staffing shortages. To expedite the filling of vacant teaching positions, it was decided to proceed with pending advertisements that were originally published back in 2022. The scale of the vacancy is substantial, with only 445 out of 860 postgraduate teaching posts currently filled.
In a parallel effort to strengthen the university's administrative framework, Calcutta University is also seeking legal counsel to initiate the recruitment process for non-teaching staff, signaling a comprehensive approach to institutional improvement.
