The Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University (DSEU) has eliminated the lunch break from its timetable, opting for eight hours of continuous classes instead.
In a recent notification, the university, which offers skill-based courses including BSc in aesthetics and beauty therapy, medical and laboratory sciences, and BBA in facilities and hygiene management, announced the removal of the half-hour lunch break from 12:30 pm to 1 pm from its daily schedule for students.
According to officials, “squeezing five minutes here and there” is sufficient for lunch time as the students are “grown-ups.” This decision has sparked outrage among students, who are protesting the change.
“Previously, we had a lunch break from 12:30 pm to 1 pm, which was part of the timetable. Now, the university has removed it and scheduled back-to-back classes from 9 am to 5 pm without providing any reason,” said a student who wished to remain anonymous. The student also claimed that the lunch break has been removed from the timetables of all 22 DSEU campuses in Delhi.
When asked about the decision, DSEU Joint Director (Academics) Kamna Sachdeva explained that the lunch break was removed to facilitate the development of a centralized timetable for all campuses in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. She mentioned that teachers have been asked to dismiss students five minutes early from their classes, allowing them time to eat before the next class begins.
“It is not necessary to include a half-hour lunch break in the schedule. We have instructed campus directors to provide a lunch break if their timetable permits. Students can be dismissed five minutes early from their class to have lunch, which is sufficient,” Sachdeva told PTI.
“The change was made to create a centralized timetable in accordance with NEP 2020, allowing students to attend classes at any DSEU campus near their home. Students are anxious because they don’t see the lunch break in the new timetable, but they don’t understand it is for their benefit. We don’t want them to stay on campus for long,” she added.
Sachdeva further clarified that DSEU runs classes in shifts and the first batch of students finishes their classes by 1:30 pm.
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