Hyderabad: A recent move by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has sparked concern among academics. The Chief Minister has reportedly directed universities to close down academic courses that are seen as outdated or not useful in today’s world. He also suggested moving the teachers of these courses into administrative roles. This has raised questions about which departments might be affected and which faculty could lose their teaching positions.
According to university sources, Vice-Chancellors have been asked to decide which departments should be shut down. Many believe that some university courses have not been updated in years and are no longer relevant to current job markets or modern knowledge needs. This has led to low student interest and attendance in certain courses.
A senior professor told The Hans India that the Chief Minister’s goal is to make university courses more useful and job-oriented. He said that students are losing interest in classes because the content feels repetitive and outdated. Many students don’t find the current syllabi helpful for their careers or personal goals.
At Osmania University, officials say the issue is especially common in departments like social sciences and humanities. One of the departments that could be affected first is the Department of Philosophy.
A former Vice-Chancellor of Osmania University explained that Philosophy has long been considered the “Queen of Knowledge” in the Western academic tradition. That’s why even degrees in science and engineering are often called “Doctor of Philosophy.” However, he questioned how much the current Philosophy syllabus contributes to modern knowledge and skills.
The professor pointed out that most Philosophy courses still focus on the history of Indian and Western thought, with a heavy emphasis on Western ideas. Many students rely on English translations and are unable to read original Indian philosophical texts. This limits their ability to think creatively or contribute new ideas, especially when compared to students in global institutions like the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.
In contrast, central universities and IITs in India offer Philosophy courses that are more connected to today’s issues and often include material from other fields. At Osmania University, however, the Department of Philosophy has only one or two faculty members. If they are moved to administrative roles, the entire department could effectively be closed down, according to university sources.
