One has many fond memories of college. However, waiting outside principal’s office, twitching thumbs in fear of what will happen next, is not one of them. Every time exams approach, students are mainly worried about getting their hall tickets on time.
And shortage of attendance is one of the biggest problems in this regard.
To ensure that students don’t have leeway on campus, college authorities always have stringent measures in place. One of these is to have a minimum of 75 per cent attendance. However, when some students fail to maintain that, colleges have no option but to come up with other rules.
For instance, some colleges make students sit in the library after college hours. Nikhat, a first-year BA student, thinks many students are safe because of this rule.
“We should have 75 per cent attendance to get hall tickets. For every percentage of shortage, we have to put in three extra hours at the library. For example, if a student has 72 per cent attendance, she has to sit in the library for nine hours. We are given individual assignments during this period and even marked.”
If the students can’t meet the minimum attendance requirement despite this, they are not given hall tickets and are made to repeat the year. She reveals that about ten students from her class are being made to sit in the library everyday.
In Vijaya College, Jayanagar, students go through a similar punishment. Here, the minimum attendance percentage is 70.
The college issues a list with the names of students, who have less than 60 per cent attendance. Then, the second list is put up. If their name appears on this list too, their parents are called to the college without the students being informed.
They are then taken to the grievance cell and asked the reasons for having less attendance.
They undergo counselling along with their parents. Genuine reasons, like health or family problems, are taken into consideration while others are made to sit in the
library and work on assignments.
Anita HS, a final-year BA student, says, “It is both a learning session and a punishment. We are made to reflect on ourselves while sitting in the library.”
Similary, at Bishop Cotton Academy of Professional Management, Yelahanka, students are given assignments when they fail to have 75 per cent attendance.
Dr Ranji Jacob, the principal, explains, “We conduct a review programme every month and ensure that all students have good attendance. If it comes to our notice that they don’t have enough attendance, we make them take part in group activities for one hour a week. They are given assignments to work on.”
Christ University too follows a similar rule. Here, the minimum attendance is 85 per cent and students are made to sit in the library and work on assignments when they have a shortage.
Detention is given a lot of importance and their presence in the library is closely monitored.
Students are made to sign a register on entering the library.
While leaving too, they have to mention the time and sign.