Allegations of widespread malpractices have been levelled against the Academic Centre of the Madurai Kamaraj University’s Directorate of Distance Education (MKU-DDE), which is run by a private party, and MKU’s Evening College in Theni.
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Documents accessed by The Hindu reveal that there were instances of candidates being allowed to write the same examination more than once if they had not written well in the first attempt at the Academic Centre.
A candidate doing Masters in English through distance education had confessed to paying Rs. 1,700 at the centre to write an examination for the second time without supervision.
The issue came to the knowledge of university authorities when the centre had by mistake sent both the papers of the candidate for evaluation.
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Similarly, allegations have also been made against the functioning of MKU Evening College in Theni. For instance, the transfer certificates (TCs) issued to some students last year show that the TCs were signed by those running the DDE Academic Centre instead of the Director of MKU Evening College.
R. Tamilvanan, a functionary of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) in Theni district, who had submitted multiple petitions to the university and Chief Minister’s Special Cell regarding the issue, alleged that students were asked to pay more than the stipulated fee in many instances.
“Even Dalit students, who are eligible for concession and exemption in fees, are asked to pay more,” he told The Hindu .
Joint Action Council – Madurai Kamaraj University (JAC-MKU), a coalition of four teaching and non-teaching associations of MKU, has raised the issue in its recent letter to Higher Education Secretary Apoorva. It had alleged that 15 per cent of the fee collected by the Evening College, which should be remitted to the university as per procedure, had not been remitted properly.
JAC-MKU had also highlighted the issue of signing of TCs by unauthorised persons. It claimed that many TCs were signed by R. Narayanaprabhu, the Programme Officer of the Academic Centre, who has no authority over the Evening College.
When contacted, Mr. Narayanaprabhu termed the allegations as baseless.
“There were certain allegations. I have provided adequate explanation. If the allegations are proved, I am willing to face any punitive action,” he said, adding that he was targeted by a section of people with vested interest.
Acknowledging that certain specific allegations had been brought to their notice, a senior official from the university said that stringent action would be taken after enquiry.
“Even Dalit students are asked to pay more”