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        The choice-based credit system, which was supposed to usher in international standards of teaching, is a dismal failure according to art and science college students, as it offers no choice.

        The CBCS, according to a circular from the Madras University issued in 2006: 'Is a flexible system of learning that permits students to learn at their own pace, choose electives from a wide range of elective courses offered by the university departments, undergo additional courses and acquire more than the required number of credits, and adopt an interdisciplinary approach in learning and make best use of the expertise of available faculty.'

        The problem arises when the student is not permitted to learn at his own pace and has very little choice (as is the case with many of the affiliate colleges of Madras University, which offer less than 14 courses in the government-aided stream) in choosing their electives or for that matter their core subject (formerly called the major).

        A head of the department of one of the affiliated colleges of Madras University says, 'The CBCS is pure hogwash. We have the same number of courses the same number of subjects offered under each course, just repackaged in the name of CBCS. There are grave drawbacks with the new system like stricter attendance regulations and retests.'

        Even in varsities like the Madras University, which boasts of 68 departments there are certain courses not covered under the CBCS, like M.Sc, Anatomy, Microbiology, Physiology, M.D. Microbiology, Pathology ,Pharmacology, Diploma in Clinical Pathology, Diploma in advanced Laboratory Methods, Hematology and Pathology.

        A professor from Madras University says, 'While students at the main campus in Chepauk can boast of having taken electives like criminology, psychology, plant biology and saiva sidanta; that are totally unrelated with their core subjects. At the taramani campus confusion is rife with only half the courses offered coming under the CBCS. And the guidelines provided are anything but clear.'

        He says at the bottom of every new circular from the Madras University there will be the note that the rules governing the CBCS are subject to revision, 'which means that some affiliated colleges have violated the norm and new rules must be framed so that it is no longer a violation.'

        Madras University officials when contacted were not available for comment.

        When this is the case with universities, small wonder that students from affiliated colleges aren't any too happy with the new system. A WCC student says,'We have 10 major departments, the same majors and ancillaries, only now they are called cores and electives. When my sister studied here a few years ago the B.A.English course had 32 subjects, after the CBCS was introduced I still have the same 32 subjects.'

        'When I approached my professors to take up a self-study course, they said it was an autonomous college and I must ask my department head (who was clueless about it) and Madras University rules did not apply here. But when it came to my lack of attendance they quoted Madras University rules. When I asked for a copy of the college constitution, they refused point blank and insulted me. One of my professors told me that only for 'special cases' would the rules not be applicable and left to the discretion of the head of the department,' says another student.