The University Grants Commission has proposed a new syllabus for psychology this week, which it said has “special relevance to the Indian context”, as the existing syllabus “were not rooted in the national ethos”.
In a letter dated October 5 which has been sent to vice chancellors of all universities, the UGC observed that the syllabus of Psychology courses in India right now were “neither keeping pace with the recent developments in the discipline nor fulfilling the societal needs”.
The new syllabus is being criticised by some academics.
“It should be explained on what basis the expert committee concluded that the prevailing course content is not rooted in the national ethos,” Navin Kumar, associate professor of Psychology at the Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, told The Telegraph.
“Every university has its board of studies, academic council and executive council to decide academic matters. The commission should not encroach on that sphere,” an unnamed Delhi University teacher said.
“The syllabus at DU met all international standards and we must first look if the syllabi created by the experts even meet those standards.” Narender Chaddha,a former Psychology Professor at Delhi University, told The Times of India,
