Delhi University To Discontinue M.Phil From Upcoming Academic Session

Several lecturers, however, have criticised the decision to stop the degree, claiming that it will be detrimental to students who are not financially secure, as well as women.

Delhi University. (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: In accordance with the National Education Policy-2020, Delhi University has issued a statement announcing that M.Phil would be terminated beginning with the next academic session.

The policy will be implemented by the institution in 2022-23, news agency PTI reported.

However, several lecturers have criticised the decision to stop the degree, claiming that it will be detrimental to students who are not financially secure, as well as women.

In a statement released on January 27, the varsity stated that M.Phil programmes offered by several departments at the University of Delhi will be phased down beginning in 2022-23, in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

According to a university spokesperson, there will be no new admissions to M.Phil programmes, but students who are currently enrolled will continue to pursue the course.

"NEP-2020 is all about widening the gap between the haves and have nots. Either commit to doing a PhD or remain without a research degree. The NEP, which is floating on advertisement of 'choice', is taking away real choices which students had. Students with disadvantageous backgrounds looked up to M.Phil as a research degree they could afford before going towards teaching jobs. This degree (M.Phil) is being discontinued not because of any organic need of the system but because of NEP-2020," Former Executive Council member Abha Dev Habib was quoted by PTI in its report.

As per Habib, unlike a PhD, an M.Phil is a short-term research degree for students that exposes them to research work and contributes to their curriculum vitae.

According to social scientists, students with M.Phils do better in their Ph.Ds.

In a Facebook post, JNU lecturer Ayesha Kidwai stated that the M.Phil cancellation has a gender component as well.

She stated that since the 2012-2013 M.Phil, enrolment has constantly been dominated by women, with the current figure hovering around 60%.

"This is also the one degree that the NEP-2020 recommends must be eliminated from the education system, with immediate effect, without any pretence even at consultation with stakeholders," Kidwai said.

"M.Phil. is often the only research degree that women (as well as other disadvantaged sections) can pursue… PhD degrees require an investment of time and a loss of earnings that patriarchal society lets only a few afford - and the need for its immediate abolition is difficult to fathom," she further adds.

She questioned the logic for the discontinuance of M.Phil, claiming that the announcement shows how women's participation in creating and investigating research subjects, as well as in the labour force of the education sector, is of little importance to educational policymakers.

Academic Council member Mithuraaj Dhusiya stated that the M.Phil programme has played a significant role in building research aptitude at Delhi University and other Indian universities through numerous generations via rigorous course work and exposure to higher research.

(With PTI Inputs)