Semester system - student's opinion

Two issues are running in D.U these days and have become very controversial. They are:

1 Semester system at undergraduate level:

Teachers are divided into two groups over semester system at undergraduate level. Some of them are opposing it and still others favor it.

Whatever the case may be, no one is asking student's opinion.

In my opinion following are the positive and negative points for such a system:

Positives:

1

Burden on students will be reduced. Say their are 10 chapters in a subject. At present students have to learn all those 10 and present in 3 hrs during exams. But in semester system the 10 chapters will be reduced to half. And in same 3 hrs students will have to present only 5 chapters.

Which would be comparatively an easier thing for students.

2

Fast and effective assessment: Students can be assessed after every six months instead of 12 months. Therefore it would be effective also.

3

A feel of faster moving: After six months students will jump to next level. They need not to wait for one full year to go to next level.

4

Increased motivation among students: Students will feel motivated towards studies from the beginning. Since they will have to appear in exam after 6 months. In current annual system majority of students act lethargic and wake up only in the last two months.

5

No house exams which are just a formality.

6

Reduced burden of so unimportant assignments. Since they will be cut out from the syllabus.

Negatives:

1 Lesser time for extracurricular activities: Myself being a strong supporter of ECA, I think students will get less time for practicing. But that can be solved by putting extra hours to such activities.

2 The major negative is for teachers. They will have to set and evaluate papers so frequently which will add to their workload. Also they won't be enjoying as much vacations as they do now.

They will have the pressure to finish the syllabus in time also.

2 Course structure and syllabus

The second issue is the course structure which has also been changed so as to fit in the semester system.

Many teachers are opposing the revised syllabus also.

In case of Zoology for example, out of (1) chordates and non chordate animals and (2) molecular biology (biotech, genetics, biochemistry and immunology) - the emphasis is being put on the second i.e molecular biology. But some of the conventional zoologists are against it.

The point which teachers are raising against is - they want to continue teaching the age old non chordates and chordates.

According to them without teaching about the animal one can not conserve them.

But they fail to understand that conservation biology is a different branch. And has nothing to do with dissecting frog or cockroach.

The second thing is - not much research and new updates has been done in chordates and non-chordates field. However in case of molecular biology everyday new researches are being published. People are coming with new proteins and genes.

So many Genomes are being adding up. A lot of data is being piled up. So who will be going to study that all and when if they are not starting at undergraduate level.

Zoology needs a make over. From conventional to advanced.

Well students opinion have not been asked anywhere in all this. Wheteher they like semester system or not. What kind of syllabus they want? but to say, ironically, it's being done for them only .

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