Setting aside a resolution of Karnataka State Higher Education Council, Mangalore University has decided not to allow undergraduate students who did not clear the fifth and sixth semesters to appear for the failed subjects along with the next immediate semester examinations.
The university took the decision after a meeting with principals on Monday. With this such students will not be able to appear for the failed subjects’ examinations along with the odd semester examinations beginning on October 23.
The council, in its August 20, 2016, meeting decided to allow the students to appear for the failed subjects along with the next immediate semester examinations irrespective of odd or even semesters. Following this, the Department of Higher Education on August 8, 2017, wrote to the universities to take steps to implement the decision of the council.
K. Byrappa, Vice-Chancellor, Mangalore University, told The Hindu on Tuesday that the department has only issued a directive and it was not binding on the university to implement it.
The Vice-Chancellor said that even before the council took a decision on the same, in 2015, it did allow students to appear for the failed subjects on an experimental basis. About 48,000 repeaters had appeared for it along with odd semester examinations. But the pass percentage was only 8. Later, the university decided that it was not worth spending its resources for the sake of such students.
In addition, Mr. Byrappa said that teachers were also under pressure as the evaluation of answer scripts of repeaters along with about one lakh regular students took more time, thereby disturbing the academic calendar and some anomalies in the announcement of results.
Samuel K. Samuel, president, Federation of Mangalore University Private College Principals’ Association, said the principals have no specific role to play in the decision taken by the university. It is up to the university to take a call on implementing the directive of the department.
“If the university decides to conduct the examinations for the failed students we have to abide by it. Principals have not opposed the decision of the council,” he said.
Mr. Samuel said that the principals in the meeting were also told by the university that the directive by the department was not mandatory.
But, he added, the principals are concerned about the outcome of the decision taken two years ago. The decision then was taken without planning. It resulted in chaos in the announcement of results as repeaters of all semesters were allowed to appear for the examination with regular students. The same should not be repeated.
AMUCT stand
The Association of Mangalore University College Teachers (AMUCT) said on Tuesday that the university should allow fifth semester failed students to appear for the failed subjects along with VI semester examination.
A supplementary examination should be conducted for the VI semester failed students immediately after the announcement of results only in selected examination centres. It is in the interest of students, the president of the association Ummappa Poojary P. told The Hindu.
Proper planning needed
He said that it is possible to implement the decision of the council with proper planning.
Multiple factors such as a change in examination software, change of Registrar (Evaluation), change of staff in examination section and allowing failed students of all semesters to appear for failed subjects simultaneously – which all took place at a time resulted in chaos in 2015. Less pass percentage of repeaters cannot be used as reason for denying an opportunity for repeaters now.
