Every graduation course conventionally is of 3 year duration with one annual examination at the end of each year. However, this academic scheme was modified by the JandK higher education department in the year 2015 by the introduction of Semester system. This semester system was implemented with a hope to improvise the quality of higher education. This model demands commitment on student level and the maximum class work to improve the teacher-pupil interaction.
As has been said: “When the old order is destroyed without adequate replacement , Thucydides trap is the outcome in place.” This adage has a strong co-relation with the failure of semester system in the JandK. The students had expected that they will complete their degrees within the stipulated time – that is three years – but this semester system has already delayed the degree of 2015-batch undergrads by almost one year. The students who are going to pursue PG programs from outside the state will have to wait for another session to get the admission. The Kashmir University recently announced that the 5th and 6th semester examination of its undergrads will be held in the last week of June but given the length of their syllabus, it will be very hard for the students to complete their syllabus.
Students want to write their exams as early as possible but at the same time they are demanding 50% concession in their syllabus. The mismatch of academic calendar between Kashmir University and the Universities of other states has created an atmosphere of despair for the students that impact their mental capability and also deteriorates the quality of education. The burden of students should be siphoned away through prompt action by university management for the betterment of students.
The unnecessary burden of semester system may collapse under its rigid procedure and the reorientation of this whole model may rejuvenate the academic calendar of Kashmir university undergraduates.
Writer Shahid Majeed Mir hails from Misribehak Machil Kupwara and can be reached at mirshahid363@gmail.com
