Chennai: Backing the Delhi University`s proposal to introduce a four-year long degree programme, Minister of State for HRD Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday said it was "potentially very, very positive."
"..In my view, this is potentially very, very positive. We have to see how it works out in practice. But we have time to get it right. Don`t forget those who are joining today will only reach the fourth year in three years time from now," he said.
Observing that government believed that the university has followed due process within its academic providence, he said "when people are appealing to us to intervene, I think it is wrong in principle for ministers and bureaucrats to overrule universities, when the universities are doing what they are supposed to be doing. It will set a dangerous precedent."
"(If) Academic Council, their Executive Council has approved, then I don`t think it should be the Ministry`s job to overrule. So, I hope people will accept that this is the position or principle," he said.
Delhi University had recently decided to introduce a four-year undergraduate course in its programmes.
To a query if there were only bills relating to his Ministry that he wanted to push, he said "there are lot of higher education bills pending. One, for example, is the Unfair Practices Bill which would punish capitation fee and dishonest practices. That is an important bill that is pending. Then, there is this Higher Education Penetration Bill. There is this bill for foreign education providers."
"Perhaps, most of all, which would have an immediate impact will be the Universities for Research and Innovation Bill. There are 14 universities, public or private sector, they would be devoted to research and innovation," he added.
Earlier, he conferred the Rotary Club`s `Distinguished NRI Award` to Indian Tennis legend Vijay Amritraj.
PTI
