Back-to-back VAC classes, designed to enhance skills of students beyond their regular curriculum, is ‘detrimental to the learning experience,’ the DU notification says. Chaos around the corner, argue teachers.

Delhi University has asked colleges to avoid scheduling two consecutive classes of Value Addition Courses, stating it is “detrimental to the learning experience of students.” At DU, VACs have been designed in such a way that they are able to enhance the skills and knowledge of students beyond their regular curriculum, enhancing employability.

The notification issued by the university said, “It has come to the notice that colleges are conducting two classes of Value Addition Courses in continuation, which badly affects the students’ learning experience.” No two consecutive theory or practical classes should be included in the VAC time table and the colleges should not conduct more than two hours of VAC, it cautioned. “These instructions should be followed scrupulously,” it added.

A section of teachers has also come out to criticize the notification, saying it is going to cause “chaos” since timetables are already finalized. According to the Chairman of the Indian National Teachers’ Congress, Pankaj Garg, the order would “create chaos” in the colleges since the timetables are almost finalized and VAC papers are scheduled according to the infrastructural facilities available in the colleges. He added, “Following this circular would make things difficult. This decision is going to hurt the requirements of students for discipline papers, which are obviously the priority of students. INTEC demands the immediate withdrawal of this notification.”

Abha Deb Habib, secretary of the Left-backed Democratic Teacher’s Front, pointed out that the university has blamed the colleges for scheduling four continuous hours of VAC courses but did not acknowledge that all these decisions are taken by cluster coordinators appointed by the university itself. She said that the notification remains silent on the role of these coordinators.

Mithuraaj Dhusiya of the Delhi University Academic Council termed them “cosmetic.” In such times, when more time needs to be given toward discipline-based specialization, he once again raised questions regarding the relevance of VAC courses. Dhusiya also expressed reservations about continuous four-hour sessions for most SEC courses, and there was a demand that these courses be returned to their earlier form of discipline-based content.

These controversies raise much larger questions about the design and scheduling of DU VAC and SEC courses. The varsity, which is enriching the overall educational experience and employability of students through courses, is also met with practical challenges and feedback from the teaching community, indicative of comprehensive planning and wide consultation.