Due to the National Education Policy, undergraduate or graduation courses have now become four years instead of three. Many colleges are facing problems because of this. The reason is that with an additional year added, many colleges lack the infrastructure and manpower to conduct those classes.
In this situation, Calcutta University wants to help. The country's oldest university is going to open its doors to students for that fourth-year course. Vice-Chancellor Ashutosh Ghosh has announced that from this time, students can pursue their fourth-year studies at the university if they wish.
Following the National Education Policy published in 2020, four-year honours courses have started in colleges across the state in the past few years. However, not all students will study in the fourth year-it's not like that.
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Students who obtain a specified number of marks will be allowed to study in the fourth year. After completing the fourth year, the concerned student will receive an honours with research degree from the university. The rest can graduate with honours in three years. The fourth year has been designed in such a way that students can prepare themselves for research during that year.
After passing the fourth year, students can directly pursue a PhD according to UGC rules. And if they pass and graduate in three years, there is the traditional two-year master's course.
According to Ashutosh, "When college students pass their third year, the university will organise an entrance examination. Through that, students can pursue the fourth-year course at the university itself based on merit."
However, in that case, after becoming three-year honours graduates and leaving their respective colleges, students will have to enroll at Calcutta University for one year. At the same time, there will also be the traditional two-year master's course at the university level. That means there will be two types of master's courses at the university simultaneously. The Vice-Chancellor has said that a decision will be made later regarding whether there will be an entrance exam for the two-year graduate course or whether admission will be based on marks.
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Many colleges in the city, suburbs, and districts are already struggling due to a lack of infrastructure. There are insufficient classrooms and laboratories. There is also an inadequacy in the number of teachers. In this situation, many colleges were worried about whether they would be able to provide space for students when fourth-year classes begin in a few days.
However, Shiuli Sarkar, Principal of Lady Brabourne College and Syndicate member of Calcutta University, says, "As a result, a large section of students will get the opportunity to study at the university level. Pressure on colleges will reduce. Students will also get the opportunity for better quality education."
Manas Kabi, State General Secretary of the All Bengal Principals Council, an organisation of college principals, and Principal of Ashutosh College, welcomes this decision of the university and says, "Before taking such decisions, if colleges' opinions are taken and discussions are held, it would be more convenient to implement them."
