Undergraduate first-year classes for the 2017-20 session started across colleges in Kolhan University without a proper syllabus on Wednesday.

Kolhan University is yet to give its approval to new syllabi for UG streams under the choice-based credit system (CBCS) introduced this year.

The syllabi needs formal approval at the varsity's syndicate meeting. But, the meeting originally slated for Thursday had to be postponed by eight days due to the ongoing Assembly session.

As the crucial meeting will now take place on August 18, freshers across colleges affiliated to Kolhan University started class on Wednesday without a formal syllabus.

Keeping the problem in mind, Kolhan University directed colleges to start teaching basic concepts which form the base of any subject and assured authorities that new syllabi would be in place as soon after approval in the August 18 syndicate meeting.

"Somehow this (syllabi) couldn't be fixed but we have directed colleges and teachers of UG courses to start teaching basic concepts of their respective subjects. Certain basic concepts will not change, no matter what the syllabus," said A.K. Jha, varsity spokesperson and proctor.

Kolhan University's new undergraduate syllabi have been drafted already. "Approving the draft at the meeting is the last formality," Jha said.

On Wednesday, induction meetings were organised across colleges and teachers started class with basic topics common to old and new syllabi.

"Topics like introduction to information technology won't change, so we started with it today (Wednesday)," said Anwar Shahab, head of the department of BSc (IT), Karim City College, an affiliated college of Kolhan University in Jamshedpur. "We expect to get the new syllabi within 10 days. Janmashtami and Independence Day holidays will fall too we will manage," he added.

Evening shift

While the university is done with online admissions, offline admission for the second (evening) shift classes in colleges started on Wednesday and will continue till August 15. Most constituent colleges of Kolhan University, except the new ones, will run evening shifts to increase students enrolment. This feature was also started this year, said Jha. "The state higher and technical education department approved the evening shift. Funds to recruit teachers for it have been allocated," Jha added.