New Delhi: Eminent scientist and Bharat Ratna awardee Professor CNR Rao has slammed the Ministry of Human Resource Development's decision to scrap the four-year course in IISc saying that the Ministry cannot give military commands for education.
Barely a month after the controversy over scrapping Delhi University's Four-Year Undergraduate programme, the MHRD's new agenda to deal with other institutes like the Indian Institute of Science hasn't gone down well with scientists.
"Ask institutes what they want to do instead of saying 'stop'. We can't give military command to education.
"Institution like IISc should be allowed the freedom for innovation. If you doubt the quality of IISc then you doubt the quality of every institution in India", Rao said.
IISc and other institutes like Shiv Nadar University, Symbiosis and OP Jindal University received a circular in July from MHRD for the scrapping of their four-year degree courses.
IISc's course had started four years back with its first batch already in final year.
Many students opted for IISc, despite high IIT entrance rankings because they felt that it would give them a global edge.
"Initially, the government wanted a four year programme and had taken a decision to this effect. But now, since it didn't work out in one place, they are trying to stop the programme across the country", said one student bitter about the development.
"IIsc has a worldwide reputation with some of the world's best scientists as its alumni so to take away its autonomy and enforce a decision upon us, is not fair.
"We want the four-year course to continue, not just for us but for the future batches as well", said another student.
IISc officials did not want to comment on camera, except to say that they have responded to the MHRD's circular with their own concerns -- specially considering that the four-year course was finalised after nearly two years of structuring and fine-tuning it.
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