Classroom Time Comparison
Indian students in 4-year undergraduate programs take five courses per semester with 20 hours of classroom time weekly.
In contrast, students in the EU/US typically take four courses with 12 hours of classroom time weekly.
The additional 8 hours in India’s system leaves students with less time for self-study, assignments, and reflection, which can hinder deeper learning and critical thinking.
Impact on Assessments and Learning Quality
More classroom hours reduce the ability for diverse assessments, focusing on multiple-choice tests.
This shift encourages rote learning, where students passively absorb information rather than actively engaging with and reflecting on their learning.
The focus on continuous assessment (as per NEP 2020) is diluted because of the time constraints, limiting students' ability to engage with varied forms of assessment over the semester.
Challenges for Faculty and Teaching Quality
Indian faculty are expected to teach 14-16 hours a week, compared to just 9 hours in many EU and North American universities.
This heavy teaching load reduces time for research, course development, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, affecting teaching quality.
The Need for Reform
To align with global standards and fully realize the vision of NEP 2020, there should be a reconsideration of the number of courses and classroom hours
Reducing the classroom burden would allow students more time for self-directed learning, critical thinking, and engagement with diverse forms of assessment.
A balance between teaching load and academic freedom for faculty, alongside flexible assessment structures, would improve learning outcomes, reduce rote learning, and better prepare students for advanced education and global challenges.
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