BHU VC advocates for restructuring 3+2 higher education system

The University of Delhi tried to inculcate the Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP), two years ago, but had to roll it back after much protest. However, Banaras Hindu University's Vice-Chancellor is pitching for the same. BHU Chief, Girsish Chandra Tripathi said that the Indian education system is outdated and 3+2 education system needs to be restructured.

The Vice Chancellor also asserted that there is no need for so many central universities and that their increasing number is just reducing their status equivalent to those of "polytechnics".

"The existing institutional structures do not suit our needs and aspirations. Our higher education system is an outmoded construct. New challenges require restructuring. Why cannot we have a 4+1 or a 2+3 system instead of the present 3+2 higher education system," Tripathi said, while addressing the gathering at the 30th foundation day of IGNOU.

"Universities wage a constant battle with academic dishonesty in both research and generating favourable learning outcomes. We need to move beyond score hunting programmes and ivory towers to the realities of demand and supply in a globalised world," he added.

However, he also pitched that the education system should also maintain a connect between higher education system and our ancient heritage and culture in order to strengthen accreditation and quality.

"We need to actually define 'what education is' and 'how education can work' on a one-planet basis. India has one of the highest student-teacher ratios in the world, directly impacting the quality of education delivery. Further, faculty appointments for higher education have grown at a slower pace than enrollments. Strengthening our accreditation and quality assurance mechanisms would improve the quality of existing institutions and give the new players a platform to catch up with the desired standards," Tripathi said.

PTI