Merits and Demerits of Semester System

 

Merits and Demerits of Semester System

Background:-

       Pakistan inherited education system from the colonial masters which was based on annual examination system. The British rule in the subcontinent deserves the credit that in introducing any reform or policy they proudly carried out thorough research on it through competent experts. This approach resulted into very sound system in any branch in which they implemented reforms.

Introduction of Semester System:-

       On the direction of federal government Higher Education Commission (HEC) has recently replaced the annual system throughout Pakistan BS system which is based on semester curriculum. The HEC claims that the purpose of introducing the semester/BS system is to make Pakistani degree acceptable at international level.

       However, the education scholars hold the opinion that the BS system has numerous merits which are discussed respectively in detail as below.

Merits of Semester System:-

       The BS system is based on semester curriculum and therefore, more subjects are included in than in annual system. So, the students get the opportunity to learn a variety of subjects, which enhances their learning level.

       The government claims that the raison d’être of introducing the semester curriculum under BS is to make the Pakistani degree acceptable at international level.

        The new system promotes regular interaction between students and teachers, which not only increases knowledge level of students but also creates amiable teacher-students learning atmosphere. 

       As it is based on semester system, evaluation of students is based on precisely defined credit hours. As a result, students get marking grade according to their hardwork.

Demerits of Semester System:-

       Every coin has two sides, therefore, the semester based BS system possesses a number of flaws, to commence with, the semester system is very costly so much so that even a middle class family cannot afford its expenditures. On thee other hand the annual system was highly cheap in terms of expenses as a student had to deposit a few thousand rupees for entire year even in the best college. Hence, it deprives very talented students of poor and middle class families.

       In examination of the new system shows that numerous irrelevant subjects are included in the curriculum, which is a un affordable burden for the faculty to teach. In the annual system at bachelor lever two option with English, Islamiat and Pak Studies were part of syllabus. In the semester system innumerable subjects are included in the curriculum, which the faculty finds impossible to teach due to shortage staff.

       The semester system also very burdensome for students due to heavy curriculum and as a result they do not find time to pursue extra-curricular activities like sports, general reading and fine art related pursuits like panting, music, etc. for which they have natural aptitude.

       The semester system is based on internal evaluation which provides the teachers to keep students in shackles. This deprives students to express themselves with full liberty and, hence, the personality remains timid.

        The semester system is the child-brain of HEC, which controls finances of the universities unlike the annual system where universities exercised greater autonomy. This being the reason that almost all faculties regularly face financial crisis. Due to financial deficit the faculties cannot recruit qualified teachers and not to speak of to higher class IV employs.

       The dismal expect of the semester system is that it has deprived matric and intermediate qualified govt. servants to acquire higher education in private capacity along with their jobs. There are scoreless examples of such employs who have acquired higher education in private capacities and joined superior services through competitive examinations. The semester system has closed doors for such aspirants who mostly belonged to lower class.

Conclusion:-

       To sum up, the purpose behind introduction of semester system is beyond comprehension. It has created more problems than solved an educational issue. An objective evaluation of the semester system creates the impression that the system has been devised to deprive lower and middle class from acquisition of higher education as well as pave the way for ruin of public sector universities.