Calicut varsity V-C sets up panel on FYUGP

P. Raveendran, Vice-Chancellor, University of Calicut, has set up a committee to address the alleged practical difficulties in the selection of minor (subsidiary) courses under the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUGP) in small colleges and in specific subjects such as commerce.

According to an order issued by the V-C, K. Pradeepkumar, Syndicate member, will be its convenor. The other members are Richard Scaria, Syndicate member; Manoj Mathews, Associate Professor, Chemistry, St. Joseph’s College, Devagiri, Kozhikode; P.A. Ahammed Shareef, Assistant Professor, Zoology, PSMO College, Tirurangadi; K.P. Vinod Kumar, former Principal, MES KVM College, Valanchery; and Rajeev Thomas, former Principal, Marthoma College, Chungathara.

Objections raised

This comes against the backdrop of the objections raised by a section of teachers’ organisations such as the Congress-affiliated Kerala Private College Teachers’ Association (KPCTA) and the Indian Union Muslim League-aligned Confederation of Kerala College Teachers. They had claimed that the recent revision of a clause in the FYUGP regulations would curtail the students’ freedom to choose minor courses in a different discipline from the same department that offers the major (main) course.

The KPCTA also alleged that the revision will force students to pick minor courses they may not like to study, and this is likely to happen in small colleges offering a limited number of subjects. The organisation conducted a protest meeting outside the academic block of the university on July 3 and petitioned the Governor, also the Chancellor of the university. It is learnt that the Chancellor has sought a response from the V-C on the issue.