Calicut University Faces Calls to Expand Boards of Studies for Minor Courses

Quick Summary

• Concerns were raised regarding the selection of minor (subsidiary) courses for four-year undergraduate programmes (FYUGP) in colleges affiliated with the University of Calicut.
• The Kerala Private College Teachers’ Association (KPCTA) has recommended the establishment of seperate Boards of Studies (BoS) for minor courses across 33 major programmes.
• Students currently must select unrelated minor courses from different departments due to existing FYUGP rules. Many are required to choose subjects they did not study during Plus Two, causing difficulties.
• KPCTA issued a memorandum to Vice-Chancellor P. Raveendran requesting BoS creation for better alignment between major and minor subjects, e.g., BCom and BCom (Professional), BA (Arabic) and BA (Functional Arabic).
• A Syndicate commitee appointed by the Vice-Chancellor is expected to submit proposals soon. Its preliminary report suggests establishing BoS for certain programmes but expresses concerns about creating BoS for all 33 programs due to practicality issues.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The issue highlights systemic challenges in implementing interdisciplinary education in India’s FYUGP framework while balancing academic relevance.KPCTA’s demand reflects legitimate concerns regarding student preferences and subject coherency, as forcing students into unrelated studies may undermine academic performance or career aspirations. The proposed solution-setting up dedicated BoS-addresses this but raises questions about feasibility, given administrative constraints outlined by the university’s committee.

A targeted approach might provide a middle ground where academically interconnected programs get prioritized first while ensuring flexibility across disciplines remains intact.This would balance practicality with academic goals without overstretching resources-a critical consideration within India’s evolving higher education landscape.

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