Bangalore Universityeases re-exam rules for students who fail in 5th sem

Undergraduate students at Bangalore University, who fail their fifth semester examination, will no longer have to wait an entire year to take a re-examination. They can now appear for the re-exam in the sixth semester itself, starting this year. This decision was approved in the Academic Council meeting on Tuesday.

Speaking to Deccan Herald after the meeting, university’s Registrar (Examinations) K N Ningegowda said, “This is a historic decision and will prevent an entire year getting wasted. Students would otherwise have to wait for the whole year  and during this time, they may not be able to get employment or pursue higher studies.”

Presently, students in the first semester have two opportunities to appear for a re-examination in the third and fifth semesters. Those in the second semester also get two opportunities in the third and fifth semesters. Students studying in the third and fourth semesters have one chance each at a re-examination in the fourth and fifth semester, respectively. There was, however, no provision for students of the fifth semester to take the re-examination without losing a year.

Between 2011 and 2015, statistics provided by the university on five undergraduate departments – Bachelor of Arts, Commerce, Business Management, Computer Applications and Bachelor of Science (B.S) – showed the pass percentage averaging between 50% and 60%. “We want this pass percentage figure to increase. I am confident that from the present low figures, we can bring up the pass percentage to around 85% to 90% through this measure,” Ningegowda said.

Sexual harassment
The university will soon get a sexual harassment prevention cell at a cost of Rs 20 lakh. Another Rs 20 lakh will also be used to conduct programmes on gender sensitisation.

Swimming as subject
With the Department of Physical Education set to get a world-class swimming pool at a cost of Rs 87 lakh, swimming will be made a mandatory subject for Master’s in Physical Education (M.PEd). Hitherto, it was an optional subject due to lack of the facility.

Prof Sunderaj, HoD, Physical Education Department, said: “There is a demand from a number of schools for women swimming instructors due to heightened sensitivity in schools. This could easily fetch them around Rs 30,000 to Rs 25,000 as pay,” he said.