INDIA: University chiefs back semester plan

The vice-chancellors of state and central universities from across India unanimously supported a semester system at a two-day conference in Delhi, writes Kavita Chowdhury for India Today.

This delighted Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal, who has firmly backed Delhi University vice-chancellor's decision to implement a semester system despite vociferous protests from teachers. Sibal said the semester system would pave the way for more reforms in the higher education sector, such as the credit system of assessment that would ensure greater flexibility and mobility for students.

He also called for 'norm-based' funding for institutions and not a block grant from the national government, as is the practice. "It is time the central government should not be deciding what individual universities need...It is for the universities to decide what they want to spend it on," the minister said at the conference.
Full report on the India Today site