'Sporting' Mumbai University offers re-exam option

MUMBAI: At a recent kabaddi event, only seven out of the 12-member all-woman Kabaddi team showed up as the remaining five had university exams to attend on the same day. Goes without saying that the "incomplete" team struggled to keep up in the game. The boys' team faced a similar problem as only nine players could go for the competition. Taking note of such clashes between academics and extra-curricular activities, the Mumbai University has decided to conduct an additional set of exam, a month after the regular examinations.

The decision, taken at Monday's academic council, will provide relief to students who participate in sports, NCC, NSS and cultural competitions, as well as those who were unwell during the regular exam and could not take it.

Tanuja Parte, a student of Acharya Marathe College, opted for the all-India kabaddi tournament over semester 5 exam of third year (banking and finance). "I will take the semester 6 (May 2) exams but I haven't been able to take the semester 5 exams. Every time I go to the university and request them to hold an exam for me, they say they are looking into my case."

The Yuva Sena had urged the university several times to address such cases. Senate member Pradeep Sawant, said, "As the university allows only two ATKTs (allowed to keep term), many students drop out of events if there is an exam on that day. This decision will benefit hundreds who represent the university or the state or even the country."

The sports department of the university concurred with Sawant and said that representation of MU students at extra-curricular events is poor as they don't want to miss exams. The new rule says the student's college will organize and additional exam for the applied component of semester 5 and 6 and the university for the core component. Exams for semester 1 to 4 are held at the college level. Those who missed exams on medical grounds and want to take the additional exam will have to produce a medical certificate.

Vice-chancellor Suhas Pednekar said, "These students work hard through out the year and represent the university. It is our responsibility to make sure that the ones who are trying to win us laurels are taken care of."

The academic council also advanced the academic term closure from May 4 to April 30 in lieu of the Lok Sabha elections. However, the decision was against the stands of teachers' organization, BUCTU. "The anti-teachers attitude was evident in the meeting," said a BUCTU member. Teachers had recommended that the term be extended. The council members also refused to postpone reopening of colleges.