Mass failure in MCom, revaluation ordered

Mass failure in a first semester MCom exam has left thousands Bangalore University students in the lurch. Of the 4,000 who appeared for the Master of Commerce’s ‘Advance Financial Management’, less than 1,000 managed pass marks.

The results were declared after seven months of the examination. The students have already written the second semester exams and started attending third semester classes.

On Thursday, students from various colleges protested against the BU for the mess in the evaluation process.

“There were out-of-syllabus questions, but our lecturers convinced us that it was common for those studying masters. Even the other subjects had a lot of out-of-syllabus questions, but we secured decent marks in those papers. The only problem was with the Advance Financial Management subject, where even a gold medallist in commerce stream got just 10 marks and failed,” a student from Surana College, Kengeri, told DH.

The students are also confused about the pass marks — whether it’s 25 or 28. Asked about the mess, BU Vice-Chancellor Venugopal K R said, “We will conduct revaluation. We will solve all the issues within 10 days. Students need not pay any fee for the evaluation or photocopy of the paper.”

Political turn

The protest backed by the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishat took a political turn.

A group of people claiming to be the students barged into a room where the VC was chairing a meeting and objected to ABVP members representing the protesters. They alleged that the ABVP was gaining political mileage out of the issue.

“They are trying to tarnish the image of BU. There is clear order from the university that none of the groups affiliated to political parties should enter the campus with flags. But the ABVP members are displaying their flags and shouting slogans,” said Chella, a protester.