MUMBAI: Inadequate hours for mandatory training , withheld completion certificates and hurdles in transferring academic credits are among the concerns students have raised about the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, questioning whether its promise of flexibility is translating into practice.




The Bombay University College Teachers' Union (BUCTU) compiled the feedback after interactive sessions at 10 diverse colleges affiliated to Mumbai University .




The students flagged diluted syllabi, a growing load of ancillary subjects and examination pressures, alongside difficulties changing colleges, disciplines or major subjects.








Students undergoing mandatory on-the-job training (OJT) said the duration offered by employers was often insufficient to complete the prescribed hours.




Some received "no stipend", while others alleged that companies withheld completion certificates if they "failed to meet marketing targets".




"Students have further questioned the arrangement of mandatory OJT, arguing that if it is compulsory, universities and colleges should take greater responsibility for facilitating placements and ensuring that students receive the required hours and certification," said BUCTU's Madhu Paranjpe.




Students unable to fulfil the prescribed OJT hours could fail and have to appear for ATKT examinations, she added. The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), intended to support flexible learning , has also "fallen short of students' expectations," said BUCTU's Tapati Mukhopadhyay.




Students, she added, complained that entry, exit and movement between disciplines or colleges remained almost impossible.




Students also said topics in major subjects had been reduced compared with earlier syllabi, while fieldwork and practical hours had been curtailed.




They feared this could undermine preparation for competitive examinations and employment. Of the 22 credits in a semester, as many as 12 were reportedly assigned to ancillary verticals. "Students said the emphasis on these subjects diverted attention from their core disciplines," said Mukhopadhyay.




The fourth year of the honours programme was unavailable in many colleges, students said. Those not planning postgraduate study consequently had fewer options to secure an honours degree.




Moving elsewhere for the fourth year was also difficult because colleges had different structures and limited seats.




Moreover, multiple internal and external examinations added to the pressure. Students reported errors on the Samarth portal, including being incorrectly marked absent or declared failed, with corrections sometimes delayed.




Some examinations lasted only 20 to 30 minutes, prompting concerns about whether students had enough time to attempt their papers adequately.