KSOU defers exams to compensate for delay

Students yet to receive study material for three subjects

Several final year students who have enrolled for Bachelor of Arts programmes at Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) have been made to run from pillar to post, owing to a delay in distribution of study material for the same. Varsity authorities, who have acknowledged the delay said that examinations for the students, who have either Sociology, History or Kannada (optional) as one of the subjects, have been postponed to accommodate for the delay.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, T Sudha, a final year student said that even after enquiring at the Mandya Study Centre at KSOU, she is yet to get a clear answer on when the study material will be dispatched. “Following several visits to the Study Centre, they have informed us that examinations have been postponed due to the delay in providing study material,” she said.

“We have to submit assignments before March 31. However, study material for one of the three subjects opted by me have been sent by KSOU,” she said.

Another student, Vinodraj, who has opted History, Political Science and Sociology as the combination, said that, even the lecturers at Study Centres, who have to conduct classes on Sociology and History are unsure of the syllabus, due to delay in distributing study material. “Following repeated complaints regarding the same, authorities at the Centre asked me to submit a written complaint to KSOU,” he said.

On examinations being delayed, he said that when exams are delayed by about two months, results will also be delayed by the same period. “This would render us ineligible to apply for any courses, as admission process at all varsities are generally completed by August,” he said.

The varsity will either have to compensate for the loss of students or make special arrangements so that the candidates can continue their education, despite the shortcomings of KSOU, he said.

Faculty blamed

Vice-Chancellor of KSOU, M G Krishnan, apart from the delay caused due to the restrictions imposed by the Governor, following the launch of a probe by retired judge Bhaktavtasala, said that  faculty members of the concerned departments were directly responsible for the delay.

“The directions by the Governor has put us in a spot, as the varsity could not issue work orders for even routine works of KSOU. We had requested the Governor's office to give permission for routine issues. We have received instructions from Governor’s office yesterday, in which the Governor has allowed us to take up works related to convocation and study material. The material will be printed and dispatched in the next eight to 10 days,” he said.

Blaming the departments concerned, he said that Sociology, History and Kannada departments were expected to submit the study material on time, which they failed to do, he said.

Now, examinations have been postponed to ensure that the candidates have enough time to prepare for the same, he added.