Latest news with #FYUGP
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Selection of minor courses in Calicut University: demand to set up more Boards of Studies
At a time when concerns have been raised about the selection of minor (subsidiary) courses for four-year undergraduate programmes (FYUGP) in colleges affiliated to the University of Calicut, the Kerala Private College Teachers' Association (KPCTA) has sought the setting up of Boards of Studies (BoS) in 33 programmes to address them. Functionaries of the association said on Tuesday that the students pursuing these subjects as major (main) were at present forced to select minor courses from unrelated subjects because of the rules governing the FYUGP. This was happening because of the insistence of the authorities that the minor courses should be from a separate department and under a different BoS. A large number of students were being compelled to choose as minor courses subjects which they had not studied during their Plus Two courses. In a memorandum to P. Raveendran, Vice-Chancellor, Senate members affiliated to the KPCTA demanded that the university take steps to constitute separate BoS for minor courses related to the 33 major programmes to solve the issue. For example, there can be separate boards for the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) programme and BCom (Professional) programme. It would help students who pursue normal BCom course choose minor courses from that stream. Likewise, separate boards can be set up for BA (Arabic) and BA (Functional Arabic) as well, they said. Meanwhile, a six-member Syndicate committee appointed by the V-C to address the concerns of students related to the selection of minor courses is expected to submit its proposals later this week. The committee is reported to have suggested separate BoS for BA (Arabic) and BA (Functional Arabic) and for BA (Music) and programmes in Violin, Veena and Mridangam. However, it is also of the opinion that having BoS in all the 33 programmes could be impractical.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala mulling credits, semester system for higher secondary classes
Introduction of credits and a semester system for higher secondary classes is one of the proposals being mulled as the State enters the last phase of its comprehensive curriculum revision for school education. A conclave held in the State capital on Friday to hold discussions with stakeholders and garner public opinion on the higher secondary curriculum revision that is set to begin soon underlined the need to consider the recent changes in the higher education sector, particularly the implementation of the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUGP) in the State, when deciding on the direction of the higher secondary curriculum reforms. Even though the credit system has not been fully realised nationally, the State is pondering if students can earn credits not only through project and assignments but also National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme activities. Language subjects optional Reducing the academic burden on students is also under consideration. Making language subjects optional is one way being explored. Higher secondary students can study Indian or foreign languages online and earn credits. This will also allow students to focus more on core subjects. For instance, Humanities students currently unable to pursue Economics and Mathematics together can do so if they choose to study one language through SCOLE-Kerala. Decisions though will have to be taken on aspects such as the number of credits that students can earn and if schools have the wherewithal to implement such proposals – such as faculty and infrastructure. National, State levels Presenting the concept note for the higher secondary curriculum revision, State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) director Jayaprakash R.K. pointed out that curriculum revision at the national level was guided by the National Education Policy under which the National Credit Framework provided for 1,200 hours of learning and 160 credits for classes XI and XII. The FYUGP provided more choice to students in pursuing courses and gave importance to skill education. 'When thinking about higher secondary curriculum reforms, the transformations in higher education in the State have to be taken into account.' 21st century skills He also pointed out that importance of skill courses and competency development. The reforms also raised the question of how the 21st century skills could be passed on to students in the classroom, especially at a time when technology was making huge leaps and artificial intelligence had found its way into classrooms, he said. Dr. Jayaprakash explained the schedule for the revision process. Public discussions would be held at the district-levels from August 1 to 15. Workshops on conceptualising ideas, textbook writing, and editing will follow. Expert committee meetings will be held in December. Scrutiny and curriculum subcommittee meetings will follow. The curriculum steering committee will meet in February and the textbooks will be ready for printing by March 10. Minister for Finance K.N. Balagopal who inaugurated the conclave said the achievements in the public education sector could be carried forward only through constant improvements. Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty presided.
The Hindu
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
No exemption from selection of minor courses this year, says CU Registrar
The authorities at Calicut University (CU) have sought to clear the reported confusion over the selection of minor (subsidiary) courses for the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUGP) in affiliated colleges. In a circular to college principals issued on July 14, Dinoj Sebastian, Registrar, said that students pursuing major (main) courses with minor courses must choose all of them from two minor groups offered by a discipline other than their major discipline. Mr. Sebastian pointed out that the directive followed the recent amendments to certain clauses in the regulations for the FYUGP and their subsequent approval by the university's Academic Council and the Senate. The circular said that the students pursuing FYUGP, including those programmes which were previously granted certain exemptions from the selection of minor courses, would not be permitted to choose them in their major discipline, from the 2025 academic year. Earlier this month, Vice-Chancellor (V-C) P. Raveendran had set up a committee to address the alleged practical difficulties in the selection of minor courses under the FYUGP in small colleges and in specific subjects such as commerce. Some teachers' organisations had pointed out that the revision of the clauses in the FYUGP regulations would curtail the students' freedom to choose minor courses in a different discipline from the same department that offers the major (main) course. They also claimed that the revision would force students to pick minor courses they might not like to study, and this was likely to happen in small colleges offering a limited number of subjects. Mr. Sebastian told The Hindu on Wednesday (July 16, 2025) that the circular was issued to clear the air over the issue. 'The committee is looking into the concerns raised over the selection of minor courses. If it proposes any exemptions for certain colleges, it will be examined in future course,' he added. Meanwhile, the Kerala Private College Teachers' Association (KPCTA) claimed that the Registrar had shown an unwanted hurry to issue the circular. It was issued just ahead of a proposed meeting of the committee. KPCTA functionaries urged the V-C to put the circular on hold till the committee submit its proposals.
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Calicut varsity V-C sets up panel on FYUGP
P. Raveendran, Vice-Chancellor, University of Calicut, has set up a committee to address the alleged practical difficulties in the selection of minor (subsidiary) courses under the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUGP) in small colleges and in specific subjects such as commerce. According to an order issued by the V-C, K. Pradeepkumar, Syndicate member, will be its convenor. The other members are Richard Scaria, Syndicate member; Manoj Mathews, Associate Professor, Chemistry, St. Joseph's College, Devagiri, Kozhikode; P.A. Ahammed Shareef, Assistant Professor, Zoology, PSMO College, Tirurangadi; K.P. Vinod Kumar, former Principal, MES KVM College, Valanchery; and Rajeev Thomas, former Principal, Marthoma College, Chungathara. Objections raised This comes against the backdrop of the objections raised by a section of teachers' organisations such as the Congress-affiliated Kerala Private College Teachers' Association (KPCTA) and the Indian Union Muslim League-aligned Confederation of Kerala College Teachers. They had claimed that the recent revision of a clause in the FYUGP regulations would curtail the students' freedom to choose minor courses in a different discipline from the same department that offers the major (main) course. The KPCTA also alleged that the revision will force students to pick minor courses they may not like to study, and this is likely to happen in small colleges offering a limited number of subjects. The organisation conducted a protest meeting outside the academic block of the university on July 3 and petitioned the Governor, also the Chancellor of the university. It is learnt that the Chancellor has sought a response from the V-C on the issue.
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
KPCTA to launch stir against FYUGP ‘lapses' in Calicut varsity
The Congress-aligned Kerala Private College Teachers' Association (KPCTA) is launching an agitation against the alleged deficiencies in the implementation of the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUGP) in colleges affiliated with the University of Calicut. According to the Senate and Syndicate members of the KPCTA, the university recently revised a clause related to selection of minor (subsidiary) courses in the regulations for the FYUGP. They claimed on Wednesday that this would deprive students an option to decide the minor course of their choice. They said that the students pursuing undergraduate courses in 33 subjects, including commerce and Afzal-ul-Ulama, would be forced to pick minor courses that they may not like to study. The Senate and Syndicate members alleged that though the original clause in the regulations was more student-friendly, it was changed on the direction of the State Higher Education Council. Syndicate members T.J. Martin and P. Madhu and Senate members V.M. Chacko, Manoj Mathews, P. Sulfi, E. Sreelatha, R. Jayakumar, and G. Sunil Kumar sent letters to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, also the Chancellor of the university, expressing their concerns. The KPCTA regional committee will organise a protest outside the academic block of the university on July 3.
