<div>Hardening its stand, the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Sunday (22 June) asked Delhi University and its colleges to admit students only under the three-year programme from the new academic session and not under four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) implemented by it last year, a move hailed by both teachers' and students' bodies.<br /><br />With admission to the undergraduate programme beginning on Tuesday (24 June), UGC asked DU and all its 64 colleges to comply with its order or face "consequence" such as freezing of grants.<br /><br />"Under no circumstances shall the University of Delhi or any of the colleges under it admit students to the FYUP for academic year 2014-15," the UGC said in a statement.<br /><br />"Any deviation from this directive either by the University of Delhi or any of the colleges under it shall be deemed to be in contravention of the UGC Act, 1956 with its consequences," it warned.<br /><br />The move put a lid on the month-long agitation by students' and teachers' bodies demanding scrapping of the programme.<br /><br />An executive committee member of Delhi University Teachers Association Vijaya Venkataraman welcomed the UGC move.<br /><br />She said DU was "flouting" all norms and conduct of the programme and the Vice-Chancellor remained adamant, therefore, UGC's decision is welcome.<br /><br />Delhi University Students Union President Aman Awana also hailed the decision and said they would take out a victory rally tomorrow. They would also meet HRD Minister Smriti Irani to congratulate her.<br /><br />The UGC direction for the new academic session came a day after the Delhi University struck a defiant note, rejecting the Commission's directive to scrap the controversial FYUP.<br /><br />The UGC said it would be ensured that students, who were admitted in 2013-14 in FYUP when it was introduced, are able to migrate to the three-year programme. <br /><br />The Commission has asked DU to inform all colleges to abide by the direction and "to report compliance to the Commission of this directive by the forenoon of June 23 (tomorrow) without fail".<br /><br />BJP, which rules at Centre, had during the elections promised to scrap the FYUP once it came to power.<br /><br />Officials said disobeying the UGC direction could spell trouble for DU as it could stand to lose grants and degrees offered by it could be de-recognised.<br /><br />In the statement, the UGC said, "Admission for academic year 2014-15 at the undergraduate level in the general degree programmes (including the Honours programme in different subjects of Humanities, Science and Commerce) in various colleges under the University of Delhi shall only be to the 3-year undergraduate programme which was offered prior to the introduction of the FYUP."<br /><br />UGC has also decided to constitute a ten-member committee with representations from teachers, students and statutory bodies to advice DU for implementation of the directive.<br /><br />They would ensure that students admitted in 2013-14 are able to migrate to the three-year programme, without any hassle and acquire necessary academic and other competence during the next two academic years, it said.<br /><br />The committee would comprise the Vice Chairman of UGC, President of DUTA and students' body DUSU, among others.<br /><br />At the full commission meeting on June 13, UGC had asked DU to review the programme as it felt it was in violation of the national policy on education which follows the 10-plus 2-plus 3 pattern.<br /><br />DU, however, stood by the programme and in a reply to the UGC maintained that it has followed due procedure. DU had yesterday said it had revised the programme to make it compliant with the National Policy on Education (NPE).<br /><br />Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) along with several student organisations such as NSUI and ABVP had been demanding immediate roll back of the FYUP and the VC's resignation.<br /><br />UGC is a statutory organisation responsible for co-ordination, determination and maintenance of standards of education as well of disbursal of funds for universities in the country.<br /><br /><br />(PTI)</div>
