Mumbai: In what may prove to be a big advantage to moneybags, students with low attendance have been allowed to appear for semester examinations by paying Rs 4,000 to the Mumbai University (MU).
Over 120 students were not allowed by their respective colleges to appear for First and Second Year (FY and SY) exams of Arts and Commerce since their attendance was below 60 per cent. But now, MU will conduct special exams for these students and is charging Rs 4,000 from each examinee for the same.
On Thursday, hordes of students had assembled at the IDOL building on Kalina campus to fill admission forms. These students were from various institutions — Shroff College (Kandivali), Wilson, Narsee Monjee (NM), Mithibai and a few others. When questioned, the students claimed that they had low attendance and their colleges had barred them from appearing for exams. The colleges claimed that the university should not be lenient in the matter since it is unfair to other students and they too will take advantage of such a clause in the future.
Lily Bhushan, Principal of KES Shroff College, said, “We have only considered those students who have medical and health issues. But we cannot allow students with attendance as low as 50% to appear for the exams.” A teacher of St Andrew’s College said, “These students have a poor attendance because they bunk lectures; but now, they will get away by coughing up Rs 4000. Clearly, this is an unjust benefit for the rich.”
The university has accommodated these students despite the university stipulation of minimum 50% attendance. Incidentally, the Bombay High Court recently passed an order stating that any student with attendance less than 50 per cent should not be allowed to appear for exams.
University officials claimed that they have accommodated students due to genuine reasons. Vinod Malale, a university official who manages these admissions, said, “Some students genuinely could not attend lectures, so this is the first time in the last 10 years that we have taken this decision.” However, Supriya Karande, Senate member of the Yuva Sena, said, “MU is losing funds as admissions are decreasing. We can recover funds through these admissions.” This special examination will be conducted in June.