The School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies of Jawaharlal Nehru University, the Harvard of Humanities in Bharat, has a special position in the university ecosystem since it is the only school offering undergraduate programs. This School has provided much needed energy to the campus in the form of young students and has been a link with various cultures, inside and outside the country since it focuses on
language education.
The entrance exam for the School focuses mainly on general knowledge, basic reasoning and elementary English language abilities. It is a well-known fact that the University is also hotbed of students preparing for the Union Public Service Commission exams which are much more rigorous than the entrance exam. The entrance exam and admission processes have been ridden by misuse of university infrastructure by students who enter the School and continue to pursue their interests in public service exam studies. This needs to be curtailed. The university needs to have strict class attendance policies and students need to contribute to the field of language either through professional engagements or academic research after completion of their courses. Only then the main purpose of quality education will be served. The point is to bring accountability and passionate individuals in the field of language education.
Currently there is no mechanism of faculty evaluation by students neither are there faculty refresher courses, meaning the upgrading of curriculums is at the whims and fancies of the faculty. This situation can be easily manipulated since faculty have complete control on student grading and evaluation.
Finally, Language Education needs to be connected to practical application of language, be it for professional services like translation or interpreting or mere academic research.
The politicising of current events in the university has to stop and constructive steps need to be taken.
Prasad Bakre, School of Languages (1999- 2004) Presently Revenue Management, Kraft Heinz Company Singapore
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