Educationists call UGC’s Learning Outcome-based Curriculum Framework unscientific, outdated

Eminent educationists from across Karnataka have called for the rejection of the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) draft Learning Outcome-based Curriculum Framework (LOCF), terming it unscientific, outdated and a threat to the autonomy of universities. 

During a discussion organised by the All India Save Education Committee (AISEC), Karnataka chapter, on Thursday, A. Murigeppa, former Vice-Chancellor of Hampi Kannada University, questioned the intent and relevance of introducing subjects such as shlokas, panchangas, and vastu in an era dominated by artificial intelligence, while V.N. Rajashekhar, vice-president of AISEC Karnataka, who moderated the session, said formulating curricula was the prerogative of individual universities and statutory academic bodies, not the UGC. “The contents of the draft framework could promote an unscientific bent of mind and push the country centuries backward,” he said.

R. Ramanujam, mathematician and professor at Azim Premji University, said the major portion of the LOCF curriculum was outdated and unscientific and must be rejected. Manjunath Krishnapur, mathematics professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), argued that the draft LOCF looks like it was generated by ChatGPT due to its random and poorly referenced content.

Educationists pointed out that personal beliefs should not be propagated through education, and that curriculum design must involve open debate. Many termed the UGC’s move as an effort to centralise education.