Semester System in Higher Education in Assam: A Choice or Need?

Introduction

In this globalized world each and every nation is moving with the fast changing trends and in conformity with the modern era each has adapted itself with or without the desired capability. Basically for the third world countries, it has been a challenging task as their infrastructure does not allow them easily to cope with the new and advanced world. Yet many from the south have readily accepted the heavy burden imposed upon them by the advanced north. It is not exactly a debate about north and south. It is in fact a debate about the challenges frequently faced by the developing and underdeveloped world. Like economy and culture, education is another aspect which has been adversely affected by the modern globalized world. If we talk about India, the education system is fast changing and it requires many years to be fully equipped with modern amenities. Semester system is one of the demands of the globalized world and surprisingly except the IITs (Indian Institute of Technology), University of Hyderabad and Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; no institute has complete application of semester system in India. Though recently the universities in India are trying to implement this system to meet the demand of the new world, yet it looks like a far cry for them. This paper will try to focus basically on the advantages and disadvantages of the semester system in case of India in general and Assam in particular, and the paper will try to find out the possible solution whether semester will help the students and teachers as well or not.


The Indian Scene:
The National Knowledge Commission (term ended on 31st March 2009) constituted by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, and other committees and commissions set up the University Grants Commission have emphasized on the uniform semester and credit system. Even under the 11th plan of the UGC the Chairman S. Thorat has urged all the Central Universities to bring reforms in examinations through semester system[i]. Though there were oppositions regarding the implementation of this system, yet the UGC is firm in this regard. The All India Democratic Students Organization (AIDSO) a consortium of around 600 students from Jamia Milia Islamia University, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Delhi University protested the move to change the examination system to semester system instead of annual evaluation[ii]. Before going to this debate whether to implement this system or not, let’s have a close look into the advantages and disadvantages of the semester system. This will add the required impetus to this study.
The advantages of Semester system:

The semester system undoubtedly has many advantages which can be summarized as follows:

1. The system will minimize the burden upon the students because they can appear in the examination twice in a year than once in a year.
2. Since the students have to sit in the examination on half yearly, they can learn more due to intensive study.
3. Due to internal evaluation through seminars, home assignments, etc. they will make study more about the subject concerned and it will make them more aware about the subject, they study.
4. It allows greater freedom and scope for designing and delivering a variety of courses that the students can pick flexibility from in order to enhance the quality of their learning as also their career options.
5. The system will lead to better coordination between teachers and students.
6. For the teacher, this will be particularly beneficial because half yearly evaluation of students will enable the teachers to know their students better and to reevaluate their teaching aptitude if needed i.e. more flexibility in teaching can be imparted in this method.
7. In this system, students get chance to rectify themselves within a short period of time, because examinations are held in short intervals.
8. In this system, students are kept engaged for maximum time and thus they get less time to spend in unnecessary activities.
9. The system maintains discipline in its working procedure.
10. Under this system the students will be more focused and it will control absenteeism.
11. It also enhances the interaction between students and teachers and thus will help both.
12. Students will not have to wait for the end of the year to write an examination .in this system.
13. Semester system promotes inter-disciplinary education.

The disadvantages of this system:

Apart from the advantages, this system entails some disadvantages too and those are as follows:

1. So far as the current structure of higher education is concerned, this system will not yield a fruitful result. Though the present teacher and students ratio is 1:18, it is just an average. In science stream the ratio is much lower than the average, but in arts stream this average is much greater. Specially in rural areas, the infrastructure is too poor to start such a system.
2. This system will impose heavy burden upon the teachers as well as the students. Half yearly evaluation will leave less amount of time for teachers to concentrate on teachings. Moreover, the higher secondary section, particularly in Assam is associated with the degree colleges. This section imposes heavy burden on the teachers. As such more pressure on the teaching staff will affect the teaching skill of the teachers.
3. Adverse affects will also be there in case of the students. More burdens in the form of internal assessment will discourage the youths to go for higher education.
4. Students will not get enough time for extra-curricular activities which will adversely affect the route to personality development. It may also deteriorate their mental health as well as their interest towards their study.
5. In this system there are slender chances of biasness as internal assessment is a part and parcel of the system.

The points discussed above clearly denotes that the semester
system has both merits and demerits. Now the main question that arises is that whether Indian universities are ready to implement this system or not? Are there any certain constrains which do not allow those to apply the system? Does the infrastructure stand as one of the constrains? Finally is it a need or a choice?

Assam: A Different Angle:

If we talk about Assam a rather different aspect can be seen. Being a comparatively backward region Assam is not in a position to apply semester system in higher education because the infrastructure is not adequate to meet the new demands. Moreover the colleges in this region have Higher Secondary courses under their banner and they have immense burden. Adding semester system will put extra burden on not only the teachers but also the students. Though Gauhati University has started introducing semester system, yet a lot to do after this. In a letter to the editor of the English daily the Assam Tribune it has been focused that the colleges under Gauhati University have opposed the move to introduce semester system calling it as a problem of infrastructure. The writer accuses that every time they talk about lack of infrastructure, a frequently used term to cover up their inaction and disinterestedness[iii]. Though it will be difficult for colleges to cope with this new system but it will benefit the student community as a whole in competing with other students. The problem will be double for the rural areas as they are comparatively in a disadvantageous position to implement such a system which requires a greater pace of development as such. Here the interests and willingness of the government is another aspect that plays a pivotal role.

The Overall Findings:

In the concluding remarks it can be stressed that semester system is in conformity with the global practices and standards and being a member of this globalized world every student has to cope him or herself with the new trends and demands. Since universities like JNU, Jamia Milia Islamia and Hyderabad are successfully implementing this system, all other universities particularly Assam should also try to do so to compete in the globalized world. But one important aspect should also be given weight is that before implementing such system there is an urgent need to bring revolutionary changes in the current structure of higher education. Finally, for a third world nation like India semester system cannot be a choice as it is a need for India.

Endnotes:

[i] www.du.ac.in
[ii] www.thaindian.com June 15
[iii] The Assam Tribune, December 16, 2009

By
Sasanka Dhaval Saikia

N.B. This a part of the seminar paper presented in Zonal Seminar on Higher Education organized by Golaghat Zone, Assam College Teacher's Association(ACTA) in the month of January, 2010