THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The four-year undergraduate (UG) Honours course to be rolled out in the state from the upcoming academic year will have an exit option with a regular bachelors degree only after the third year, even as the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 stipulates multiple entry and exit options for students from the first year.
Higher Education Minister R Bindu told TNIE that the state will not implement the NEP guideline that stipulates the exit option and award of UG certificate after completing one year (two semesters) and a UG diploma after two years (four semesters) in the chosen fields of study.
The clarification came amid reports that the Centre’s funding of the state’s higher educational institutions through key projects such as Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) was in limbo for the past many months due to non-adoption of certain contentious academic criteria in NEP by the state.
“During recent discussions with the Union Education Minister, the state has conveyed its stance that the NEP cannot be implemented in toto. Besides, the Centre has also informed that the multiple entry and exit option in NEP was only advisory in nature,” Bindu said. She added that total implementation of NEP could not be placed as a condition for availing Central funding.
The minister also confirmed that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that is mandatory for seeking funds under the Central flagship scheme PM-USHA has been signed between the state and the Centre. “The agreement does not have clauses that go against the state’s declared policy in the higher education sector,” she added.
‘Early exit not beneficial for students’
Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) had also favoured exit option only at the third year of the four-year UG course in the “larger interests” of students. “After discussions with various stakeholders, it was inferred that the students do not get any benefit by exercising an early exit option especially in the context of the state’s higher education scenario,” KSHEC vice-chairman Rajan Gurukkal said.
According to Gurukkal, the model curriculum of KSHEC given to universities has recommended drastic changes in the third year of the course to benefit the students opting to exit with a normal undergraduate degree after six semesters. “As part of increasing the employability, courses will be introduced in the third year that includes internship and workplace skill enhancement,” Gurukkal said.
“An early exit would deny such a crucial component of the course to students and hence it was decided to provide that option after the third year,” he reasoned. While those exiting the course in the third year can enrol for a two-year PG programme, the four-year honours graduates can obtain lateral entry into the second year of the PG course, he added.