UoM degree student associations issue a bandh call

Opposition by students of degree colleges of University of Mysore (UoM), against the introduction of new examination pattern from the current year, has continued, with a union of student organisations calling for a bandh of all degree colleges affiliated to the varsity.

UoM authorities say that the decision was made based on the directions of the Higher Education department. However, students contend that the varsity has powers to have its own examination patterns, as all varsities are autonomous bodies.

They also alleged that varsity authorities did not inform about the new scheme to students in advance, and imposed the new pattern on them during the middle of the academic year.

The organisations have threatened to disrupt Dasara celebrations, by staging a protest against the varsity. Students organisations, such as All India Democratic Student’s Organisation, All India Democratic Youth Organisation and Bahujan Vidyarthi Sangha, have extended support for the bandh call.

Degree colleges from Mysore, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar districts, are affiliated to UoM.
New examination pattern

As per the old examination pattern of the varsity, supplementary examinations of all semesters were held during all the semester exams. For example, if a student had failed in any of the papers in the first or second semester, the old examination pattern allowed the student to take supplementary exams of both first and second semester papers together, during the third, fourth, fifth or sixth semester.

However, with the introduction of new examination pattern, a student who has failed in any paper in the first semester, can apply for supplementary examinations of the paper, only during third and fifth semester. Similarly, a student who has failed in second semester, can appear for supplementary examinations of second semester papers, only during the fourth and sixth semester.

According to the student organisations, the new examination pattern will rob them of the opportunity to clear all their papers, before the completion of their sixth semester.

Chandrashekar Meti, district president of All India Democratic Youth Organisation said that few students will have to lose one year due to the new examination structure. “If a student fails in third semester, he/she has the opportunity to clear the exams in fifth semester. However, if a student fails in fifth semester, he/she will lose a year, as examination of the fifth semester will be held months after the completion of sixth semester. Even though we tried communicating about the problem to varsity authorities, they are not ready to address our concerns,” he said. The organisations have been staging demonstrations in front of Crawford Hall for more than a week, he added.

The organisations have also noted that UoM has also allowed autonomous colleges of the varsity to conduct examinations in any pattern, irking students of colleges, to whom autonomy has not been granted by the varsity. 

Vice-Chancellor of UoM, K S Rangappa said that the decision to change the examination pattern was based on an order by the Higher Education department, which wanted uniformity in exams patterns in all varsities. “The new examination pattern will be applicable to autonomous colleges also,” he said.

He added that the new pattern will only be applicable for students who joined graduation courses of the varsity during the current academic year. “We will continue with the old examination pattern for third and fifth semester students,” he added.