Self-study idea of Odisha govt evokes mixed response
BHUBANESWAR: Higher education minister Arun Kumar Sahoo said that 25 per cent of the under graduate (UG) and post graduate (PG) courses will be left for guided self-study for students. This decision has evoked mixed response from teachers and students on Wednesday.
Sahoo said for the guided self-study, the higher education department will provide books, online and offline study materials to the students. They will read it and approach their teachers if they have any doubts over the 25 per cent part of the course. “It will make the students enthusiastic and self-reliant. It will also improve students’ analytical thinking,” said the minister.
A teacher of Utkal University said there is no clarity over the issue of self-study. “Which 25 per cent of the course will be given to students for self-study? Whether students will take decision about the 25 per cent part? The department should have discussed with the affected stakeholders before taking this decision,” he added.
He said PG courses have five units. “If we divide five units, one unit will be 20 per cent of the subject. How it will decide another 5 per cent? In UG (four units per subject), one unit will be 25 per cent. But which unit will be selected for self-study? It will create chaos in the latter stage,” he added.
Srinibas Samal, UG student, said the self study will help a section of the students. “But many weak students need special attention of teachers and they may not cope up with the new style of study. There is no clarity over the issue,” he added.
Asoka Kumar Das, vice chairman of Odisha State Higher Education Council, said, “We are extremely sensitive to the students’ difficulties. Simple video lecture caters to the upper 30 per cent of the student population. Now because of the doubt clearing sessions and specifically oriented reading materials, we are catering to the bottom 70 per cent students. Students need not worry. We have different mechanisms and we are also talking to the teacher community to be proactive.”