Guwahati, Nov. 2: Gauhati University has decided to go ahead with its decision of introducing the semester system in degree colleges from the next session, overruling objections from affiliated colleges and even the Assam government.

Jitram Dutta, the academic registrar, told this correspondent that the university was bound to introduce the semester system in its affiliated colleges according to the instructions and guidelines of the University Grants Commission. In case of any delay in introducing the system, the colleges will lose a huge amount of UGC funds.

“Basically, the semester system is in the interest of the colleges. GU is aware of the opposition and protests against the semester system by the colleges. Vice-chancellor Okhil Kumar Medhi will hold a meeting with representatives of Assam College Teachers’ Association and Assam College Principals’ Council on November 13 to discuss the semester system and ways for its effective implementation,” he said.

GU will try to identify the actual problems in colleges and chalk out a blueprint by January to address the same. The university has already started the process of preparing the syllabus for the semester system,” he added.

The university’s academic session starts from July next year.

The UGC made the semester system mandatory for central and state universities in March this year and asked them to implement it at the earliest.

In July, the academic council of the university endorsed the UGC’s directive to introduce the semester system to bring about reforms in higher education from the 2010-11 academic session. There are 108 colleges under the GU.

At present, colleges in Assam offer three-year degree courses and students appear for annual exams every year. Under the semester system, students will have to sit for two examinations in a year at a gap of six months and they will complete their graduation by taking six examinations in three years.

However, the colleges are arguing that the new system cannot be implemented with the existing infrastructure and shortage of manpower.

When asked about Dispur’s rejection of the semester system allegedly because of pressure from college teachers’ lobby, Dutta just said the government had asked GU to concentrate on examination reforms, which is already on. “In recent years, GU has been able to declare the results in time,” he added.

He said the university would discuss the issue with the education department and hoped to get the necessary cooperation to successfully implement the new system.

“The semester-based method makes teaching and learning more scientific. GU will try its best to make the syllabus convenient for students by breaking it up into time-specific units. Teachers will be trained to cope with the new system,” another official said.