Assam College Teachers’ Association

Golaghat Zonal Committee

Annual Seminar on

Semester System: Challenges and

Measures for its improvement

Organized by Teachers’ Unit DKD College, Dergaon

Date: 4 May, Saturday, 2013
Semester System: Challenges and measures for its
Improvement- A SWOT Analysis
Teachers Unit, Golaghat Commerce College, Golaghat.

Introduction
Worldwide, Education system plays the key role in the development and evolution of societies.
Universities through their education system and policy educate young minds and create aware
and dynamic citizens; but much more than this, universities generate new ideas and encourage
innovation. A vibrant democracy like ours, wedded to the ideals of pluralism and secularism,
must have universities which not only cherish these values but also nurture them. While
universities in India, including our own( Dibrugarh University) have played such a stellar role in
developing human resources for the development and advancement of our society.
National Development lies in the Education process. Education is imparted through a system and
its success depends on what the system is and how it is practiced. India’s Higher Education (H.E)
system is the third largest H.E systems of the world after US and China but the competiveness of
Indian H.E comes into question, especially, when measured in terms of quality and global
parameters of competitiveness.
It was a welcoming decision of UGC under the XI plan in which a move to the semester system
was recommended. This move by the UGC is aimed at bringing higher education in India in
conformity with the best academic practices and standards being followed globally. Dibrugarh
University started the semester system in its colleges from the session 2011-12. However, since
the implementation of semester system there occurred many issues which need more clarification
and discussion for better practice of the semester system.
Rationale for a Semester System

As a university community, we are all committed to improving the learning processes so that
students benefit maximally in terms of the acquisition of relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes.
The rationale for adopting the semester system rather than remaining with the annual system
stems from the desire shared clearly by all university stakeholders to impart enhanced value to
our students. The move to a semester system is likely to be beneficial for a number of reasons,
some of which are listed below.

 The key advantage is that it will provide an opportunity to students for continuous
learning and assessment/feedback, and hence, a better paced understanding of the
subject. There will be a continuous engagement between student’s and teachers which
will result in a more focused class interaction. This will inculcate regular study habits
among students. Conducting examinations twice a year will mean that student progress is
more regularly evaluated, and that the student’s performance, as at present, would not be
judged predominantly by one end of the year examination. This would enable a more in-
depth study and understanding of their concerned subjects.
 Interdisciplinary is increasingly playing an important role in the way subjects are being
conceptualized and knowledge integrated across diverse disciplines. For instance, a
subject like finance has gained from a close engagement with mathematics just as biology
and chemistry have come together in new ways. It is the semester mode which facilitates
the possibility of undergraduate students imbibing relevant knowledge and skills that are
not contained within the disciplinary boundaries of their primary subject areas. A
semester system permits greater freedom and scope for designing and delivering a variety
of courses that the students can pick flexibly from in order to enhance the quality of their
learning as also their career options.
  Moving to a semester system at the undergraduate level will lead to harmonization with
the changes made at the postgraduate level as well as with those undergraduate
courses that are already being run in a semester mode.

We have made SWOT (Strengths Weakness Opportunities and Threats) Analysis to give the
picture of the semester system

STRENGHTHS
a) Wider scope of learning through mixed course content.
b) Semester system is global and need based in nature.
c) Helpful in undertaking Post Graduate and Professional courses.

WEAKNESSES
a) Syllabus of the semester course is alike with the annual system and it becomes difficult to
complete the course within the time frame.
b) For many economically backward students the system is a costly matter.
c) Infrastructural structure in many colleges does not match to the requirement of the
system.
d) Non availability of study material mainly in Assamese medium.
e) Due to continuous engagement of students in the study process, they are giving very less
time to their extra co-curricular activities.

OPPORTUNITIES
a) Regularity, in depth subject knowledge, timely schedule for students, teachers and
administrators.
b) Professionalism course structure for better placement and self employment.
THREATS
a) Adjustment of faculties to the system is a challenge.
b) Students with average marks and quality mainly in rural and semi urban areas are unable
to adjust to the system.

Areas for Revival

1. Syllabus- In many papers the syllabus of annual system is included for study purpose in
the semester course. It becomes difficult to complete the contents in the allotted time.

2. Class Adjustment- In many colleges the HS section still exist. Though this is an issue
more related to the Government order, college authorities should take some imitative for
its withdrawal as running of classes together creates faculty problems and mainly in
colleges which are short of teachers.

3. Internal Assessment – Conduct of Internal Assessment regularly in all semester in

different aspects is time consuming and ineffective where student number is more.

4. Teaching Aids- Modern teaching aids should be used wherever possible for quick
learning process.

Conclusion

Higher Education today only demands Quality for its advancement. Introduction of semester
system is a step towards quality education and it has been well accepted by different groups of
the society. In Assam the implementation of semester in colleges has not been very successful as
it was expected. The pass percentage under Dibrugarh University students is around 20% only.
But it will early to comment about the effectiveness of the system as it has not produced any
batch of graduates. Our Higher Education system needs forward looking strategy which could
safeguard our interests at global level. It needs to organize itself in such a manner that it makes
students competent and skilled to succeed in a independent world.
References

1. Khanna Pratiba, “Changing Scenario of Higher Education: Challenges to Quality

Assurance and Sustenance” University News. Vol. 43, No.7, Feb. 14-20, 2005, Page 1-7.

2. Tilak B G Jandhyalaya, “On Reforming Higer Education in Andra Pradesh” University

News. Vol. 44, No.31, July 31- August 06, 2006, Page 1-3.

3. Naik M, “Quality Assurance System in Higher and technical Education: Can We Afford to
Ignore It?” University News. Vol. 44, No.30, Feb. 24-30, 2006, Page 9-14.

4. www.du.ac.in/fileadmin/DU/Events/sem-system.pdf accessed on 2.05.2013