Exam attendance criteria puts DU colleges in a fix

Varsity insists on 67 per cent rule, but some institutes relax conditions for students who skipped classes

While the semester-end exams of several undergraduate courses in Delhi University have begun, there is no clarity on the attendance criteria required to sit for them.

Seeing that a large number of students do not meet the required minimum 67 per cent attendance criteria, several colleges have given relaxation to them.

Ramjas College principal Rajendra Prasad said the college has lowered the minimum attendance requirement to 22 per cent.

“We have been liberal with the attendance criteria. Students with 22 per cent and above attendance are being allowed to take the exams with a medical certificate,” Prasad said.

Similarly, Deen Dyal Upadhyaya College, which would have otherwise stopped over 200 student from moving to the next year, has given ‘blanket permission’ to students with less than the required attendance.

The college principal said earlier more than 40 per cent attendance criteria was set but later the decision was revoked to allow even those with even lower attendance to sit in the exams.

On November 1, a notification was sent to DUcolleges saying that principals should follow the 67 per cent attendance rule for the semester exams instead of the old annual system format where 67 per cent was required in total over the three years.
No discretionary power

“In the annual mode the principals were given discretionary powers to allow students to make up for their short attendance in the next year by making them sign a bond. Our discretionary power was taken away after an amendment,” said a college principal from North Campus.

On reports of students being detained in high numbers, the registrar recently said, “It is us up to colleges to look into the matter and take steps for the welfare of students.”
Students were reportedly detained over the attendance issue at College of Vocational Studies, PGDAV College, Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa College, Delhi College of Arts and Commerce.

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad member Rohit Chahal said except a few colleges which have given relaxation, most institutes are still mulling over the attendance requirement.
A major chuck of students will be taking their exams from Wednesday.

“I have been getting calls from many students of several colleges complaining that they are not being given admit cards. Khalsa College which detained 950 students has started calling parents now,” he said.

“Many colleges are still deciding what to do. While some are asking students to sign a bond, some have started calling their parents, while some have set 40 per cent as the minimum attendance requirement,” Chahal added.

Liberal criteria

South Campus Gargi College has allowed students to take the exams irrespective of having low attendance.

“Students with 18 per cent attendance were also allowed to take the exams. However, we were given our admit cards at the last minute,” said Shivangi, a second year English (H) student.

Kamla Nehru College has reduced the attendance parameter to 50 per cent.
“With this relaxation more or less most of the students are eligible now. Last time I checked, approximately 25-30 students had less than 50 per cent. The attendance committee is still looking into these cases,” said English professor Sanam Khanna.
Shri Ram College of Commerce principal PC Jain said the college reviewed students’
attendance every month.

“In July and August we sent letters regarding low attendance to parents, and we saw that in the next few months it improved. No student is being detained. They are meeting the required 67 per cent attendance,” he said.

Dyal Singh College (morning) principal I S Bakshi said as the university has not issued any notification on giving relaxation, they will stick to the required 67 per cent criteria.
“We are still calculating the final attendance numbers,” he said. However, Dyal Singh has issued admit cards to all students. Last year it had detained over 300 students with many were stopped from taking exam on the day of the test.