Lucknow News: In a surprising development, Lucknow University (LU) and its affiliated colleges have reported zero admissions to the fourth year of the undergraduate program under the National Education Policy (NEP) for the academic session 2024-25. This comes despite the introduction of NEP in 2021, which aimed to offer students flexibility with multiple entry and exit options and the choice of pursuing a four-year UG program followed by a one-year PG course.
Senior professors and college principals have attributed this lack of interest to a variety of factors. According to Prof Manoj Pandey, president of the Lucknow University Associated College Teachers’ Association, the four-year UG program does not guarantee better job prospects, suffers from poor infrastructure, and lacks availability of desired postgraduate courses in many colleges.
Limited Job Opportunities and Similarity to Traditional Courses
“Why would a student pursue four years of UG and one year of PG when there is no difference between the traditional three-year UG and two-year PG programs in terms of employability, quality of education, or infrastructure?” said Pandey. The lack of distinction between the outcomes of the new and traditional courses has left students unmotivated to enroll in the extended UG program.
Preference for Traditional Three-Year UG Programs
Students still prefer the traditional three-year UG program, as many do not wish to remain at the same institution for an extended period, particularly when PG courses in their preferred subjects are often unavailable. For those aiming for professional degrees such as LLB, which can be completed in three years after a standard UG course, the four-year UG option offers little advantage.
“After pursuing a four-year BA LLB, if students then opt for an LLB (three years) equivalent to a PG course, the total duration becomes seven years, compared to the usual three years for an LLB. This makes the extended UG program impractical for many students, unless they plan to pursue a career in research,” added Pandey.
Widespread Disinterest in the Fourth Year
The lack of admissions is not limited to Lucknow University but is observed across the state. The four-year UG program is seen as beneficial only for students interested in research, as it awards a UG Honours with Research degree, but its direct link to employment opportunities remains weak. The absence of tangible benefits, combined with infrastructure challenges and course availability, has led to minimal student interest in continuing beyond the traditional three-year UG framework.
This trend raises concerns about the effectiveness of the NEP’s four-year UG structure, particularly in meeting the needs of students seeking immediate employment or pursuing professional degrees.
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