Shillong, July 26: The NEHUTA expresses its concern over pushing of Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) from current year, as the Academic Council of the University has never decided to implement the programme immediately from this year.
The NEHUTA is especially anguished by the fact that a letter by the OSD (College Development Council) claimed that ‘in pursuance of the decision taken at the 110th Academic council meeting of the University the University would implement the FYUP’.
The 110th Academic Council as a matter of fact didn’t decide upon implementation of the FYUP from the current academic year of 2023-24. Going by NEHU statues, all academic matters and their implementation are decided and overseen by the Academic Council.
Aggrieved by this, The NEHUTA in a letter to OSD (College Development Council) requested him to de-notify this notice containing the claim of decision taken by the 110th Academic Council.
The NEHUTA understands that the Academic Council is the principal academic body in deciding on ordinances of the University and also it is the Authority to exercise general supervision over the academic policies of the University.
Executive Council is not empowered to implement any academic policy without prior approval on implementation, as the AC has to exercise general supervision. FYUP, being a policy under NEP, 2020 does not fall under the purview of Executive Council, as it is an academic matter.
The powers of academic council include the power to direct ‘regarding methods of instruction to colleges’ and in this case though the council adopted course and OC-12, it hasn’t issued directions to implement it from this academic year.
The NEHUTA also expresses its shock and surprise over the Shillong Times report quoting an esteemed colleague that Academic Council doesn’t have the wherewithal to implement FYUP.
The statement smacks of partial understanding of the premier role of Academic Council in the matter and hence the NEHUTA rejects such a statement that commits an error of understanding the role of Academic Council.
Further, the NEHUTA implores upon every stakeholder to follow due process as prescribed by statute 15 and section 21(1) of the NEHU Act, 1973 in implementation of any academic programme after due consent from academic council in the form of a clearly stated resolution.
Any hurried implementation until the time when all the colleges of the entire state of Meghalaya are ready calls for a re-look at the process of implementation in all its details, said Prof Lakhon Kma President and Dr. Marbhador M Khyndeit General Secretary of NEHUTA.
