GTU to make 1st sem Engg, MCA syllabi easy to reduce failures
In the current syllabus, levels of difficulty are equally distributed across semesters. So, a first-sem student who fails in one or two papers finds it tough to clear backlog
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Monday, May 09, 2011 (Pg-1) (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/20110509201105121851178988f427572/GTU-to-make-1st-sem-Engg-MCA-syllabi-easy-to-reduce-failures.html)
Gujarat Technological University (GTU) is restructuring the first semester syllabus of engineering and MCA courses to bring down the percentage of failures.
As many as 50-55 per cent students fail in one or two subjects in the first semester, which they say is quite tough to crack.
In the current syllabus, on a par with that of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the levels of difficulty are equally distributed across the semesters.
Hence, it is highly unlikely that student who fails in one or two subjects in the first semester and gets promoted to the second, will get rid of the backlog till the final semester. Also, if a student fails in four papers, he is detained and not promoted till he clears them. As many as 2,700 students of GTU have been detained so far.
“English and mathematics are the papers most students flunk in,” said a source.
The GTU now plans to restructure the first semester syllabus by adding/deleting or modifying the content of the chapters so that students don’t struggle too hard with the subjects. The move is expected to benefit nearly 1 lakh students every year.
“Yes, we plan to change the first semester syllabus of engineering and MCA courses. A huge number of students fail in mathematics 1, 2 and 3 papers. Alteration of the syllabus is being done to reduce the number of failures and to boost students’ morale. If, in the beginning of a course their morale goes down, they will feel less confident in the succeeding semesters,” said Akshai Aggarwal, vice chancellor, GTU.
He says that a student who has cleared class 12 exams of the state board finds it very difficult to cope with the standard of course in the first semester of engineering. It gets all the more tough for students coming from Gujarati medium schools, he says.
‘Get us better faculty’
Dhaval Patel, a student who failed in a subject in the first semester, said: “I think more than changing the syllabus, the GTU should focus on getting us quality teachers. Gujarati medium students find it difficult to understand lectures in English. That is the biggest reason students fail.”
Agrees Harsh Mehta, a third semester student: “In the first semester, I failed in two papers – mathematics and mechanics of solids. But I cleared them in the second semester. However, if GTU makes the first semester easy for us, it will take a huge burden off us. Most students who fail in the first semester never really score well again. Also, those from Gujarati medium face greater disadvantage since the medium of instruction is English.”
Aggarwal said: “We will first find out the problem areas of first semester students before the committee redesigns the syllabus. Care will be taken not to compromise on its quality. The idea is to lessen the burden on students and help them prepare well. We shall also train the teachers accordingly. The move will benefit 10-15 per cent more students every year.”
Right now, GTU has 34,000 BE students, 48,000 engineering diploma students and 8,000 studying for diploma/degree pharmacy.
SPECIAL CLASSES
The GTU also plans to conduct special classes in mathematics, English and computers for as many as 2,700 detained students. “For as many as 2,700 students who have been detained, we shall organise special classes in mathematics, English and computers. It should benefit them immensely.”
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Monday, May 09, 2011 (Pg-1) (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/20110509201105121851178988f427572/GTU-to-make-1st-sem-Engg-MCA-syllabi-easy-to-reduce-failures.html)
Gujarat Technological University (GTU) is restructuring the first semester syllabus of engineering and MCA courses to bring down the percentage of failures.
As many as 50-55 per cent students fail in one or two subjects in the first semester, which they say is quite tough to crack.
In the current syllabus, on a par with that of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the levels of difficulty are equally distributed across the semesters.
Hence, it is highly unlikely that student who fails in one or two subjects in the first semester and gets promoted to the second, will get rid of the backlog till the final semester. Also, if a student fails in four papers, he is detained and not promoted till he clears them. As many as 2,700 students of GTU have been detained so far.
“English and mathematics are the papers most students flunk in,” said a source.
The GTU now plans to restructure the first semester syllabus by adding/deleting or modifying the content of the chapters so that students don’t struggle too hard with the subjects. The move is expected to benefit nearly 1 lakh students every year.
“Yes, we plan to change the first semester syllabus of engineering and MCA courses. A huge number of students fail in mathematics 1, 2 and 3 papers. Alteration of the syllabus is being done to reduce the number of failures and to boost students’ morale. If, in the beginning of a course their morale goes down, they will feel less confident in the succeeding semesters,” said Akshai Aggarwal, vice chancellor, GTU.
He says that a student who has cleared class 12 exams of the state board finds it very difficult to cope with the standard of course in the first semester of engineering. It gets all the more tough for students coming from Gujarati medium schools, he says.
‘Get us better faculty’
Dhaval Patel, a student who failed in a subject in the first semester, said: “I think more than changing the syllabus, the GTU should focus on getting us quality teachers. Gujarati medium students find it difficult to understand lectures in English. That is the biggest reason students fail.”
Agrees Harsh Mehta, a third semester student: “In the first semester, I failed in two papers – mathematics and mechanics of solids. But I cleared them in the second semester. However, if GTU makes the first semester easy for us, it will take a huge burden off us. Most students who fail in the first semester never really score well again. Also, those from Gujarati medium face greater disadvantage since the medium of instruction is English.”
Aggarwal said: “We will first find out the problem areas of first semester students before the committee redesigns the syllabus. Care will be taken not to compromise on its quality. The idea is to lessen the burden on students and help them prepare well. We shall also train the teachers accordingly. The move will benefit 10-15 per cent more students every year.”
Right now, GTU has 34,000 BE students, 48,000 engineering diploma students and 8,000 studying for diploma/degree pharmacy.
SPECIAL CLASSES
The GTU also plans to conduct special classes in mathematics, English and computers for as many as 2,700 detained students. “For as many as 2,700 students who have been detained, we shall organise special classes in mathematics, English and computers. It should benefit them immensely.”
