Teachers respond to DU's advice to colleges not to take successive value addition classes

Delhi University (DU) warned colleges not to offer Value Addition Courses (VAC) in two consecutive semesters, noting the possibility that this would be "detrimental to the learning experience of students."

The instruction was released on Thursday. A portion of teachers have criticized the announcement, claiming it will interfere with the already finalized timetables and will not improve the quality of instruction.

DU's VAC courses are intended to improve students' employability, knowledge, and abilities outside of the classroom.

"It has come to our attention that colleges are scheduling two classes of Value Addition Courses in immediate succession, which is detrimental to the learning experience of students," the notice read.

The guideline instructed institutions to keep VAC class times to a maximum of two hours and to avoid scheduling two theoretical or practical classes back-to-back.

The Indian National Teachers' Congress (INTEC) chairman, Pankaj Garg, responded to the decree by expressing worries about the possible disruption it would generate.

Schedules are practically complete, and VAC papers are organized according to the colleges' available infrastructure.

Following this circular would complicate matters and have a detrimental effect on discipline-specific papers, which students prioritize. "INTEC requests that this notification be withdrawn immediately," he stated.

The notice was also criticized by Abha Deb Habib, secretary of the Democratic Teacher's Front, which is supported by the Left. She said that cluster coordinators, who are chosen by the university, make choices on class schedules, not the colleges.

DU Academic Council member Mithuraaj Dhusiya brushed off the modifications as just aesthetic. He emphasized that educators and students have frequently questioned the value of these VAC courses, particularly in light of the need for more time for discipline-specific specialization.

Additionally, he demanded alterations to the schedule for Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC), which frequently consist of four hours of nonstop instruction.

The goal of the directive is to enhance the educational experience for students, however there has been much discussion among the university's teaching community on when and how to apply it.