New rules, newer problems

According to the new rules of Anna University, students cannot appear for arrears in the next semester itself, but will have to wait one year. Some reactions

Sharan Vishakh, IV, B.Arch, Crescent School of Architecture, Chennai

While I am not studying in an Anna University affiliated college, based on my discussions with my friends from Anna University and its affiliated colleges, many students to whom this regulation applies will certainly face a delay in their graduation. People who are planning to go abroad for further studies will have problems in their admission, and definitely feel the pinch of this new rule. By comparison, even class XII students who fail in the board exams, have their respective supplementary exams before June or July so that they can join college by August or September. Why wouldn’t Anna University have such a rule, since it is more student friendly?

Veronica. P, I, MA Economics, University of Madras

This amendment by Anna University, based on CBCS, NICTE, may lead to added pressure on students who have arrears, since they will also have a backlog in the following year. The limitation of 36 credit points for a semester will not allow the student to appear for more than three papers. It is a misfortune for the student to have to wait for a year, and may even cost them lucrative employment. Though this amendment aims for good performance by the student, it will affect students whose failure could be due to understandable reasons. So, it does not appear to be an entirely student-friendly decision.

Ganapathi Ramanathan, IV, BE (ECE), SSN

The issue isn’t with the new regulation, and most colleges have similar regulations in place. The issue, however, lies with the exam pattern and the correction. The question paper pattern doesn’t support critical thinking, or problems where we apply the principles we are taught. Another problem is the inconsistency of corrections, which results in many random arrears that clear when we apply for re-evaluation. The University should make unbiased and proper correction its priority, and then implement such regulations.

Kritajnya Raghunathan, I, LLB(Hons), School of Law, SRM University

While the arrear rule is not student-friendly, similar rules exist in many other universities including Madras University. The effectiveness of this policy in improving the quality of Anna University can only be gauged with time, but on the face of it, the rule seems to be a good method to induce students to clear papers in the first attempt. The rule has been formed based on guidelines from the UGC and is not a malicious move by the university against its students, which the protests are making it seem like. As harsh as it sounds, pressure from universities plays an important role in shaping students to be better in their fields.