The recent fiasco regarding the results of Dhempe College’s students is a matter of serious concern. The fundamental question which arises here is the often debated topic, “Should 75% attendance be made mandatory for students?”
As a principle I am myself opposed to the idea of making attendance mandatory in classrooms. I believe that if a student finds it convenient to study outside the classroom by his own means then there is no harm in it. But when the University guidelines and the College prospectuses across Goa clearly state there 75% per semester is mandatory, can students be given the benefit of doubt here? The admission form of any College in Goa and elsewhere in India too contains a declaratory clause stating that the student is ready to abide by all rules and regulations of the College. One of the principal rules is a minimum of 75% attendance per semester. Hence can students of Dhempe College really be said to be on the correct side of the argument?
The students’ argument that their lack of attendance was due to cultural activities and NAAC Accreditation process seems invalid. It is an established procedure across educational institutions to grant “Duty Leave” to students who represent the institution in any sport/cultural/ extra or co-curricular event. Such “Duty Leave” is considered to be a part and parcel of the minimum 75% attendance.
However what concerns me most about this whole imbroglio is the blatant political interference in the autonomy of the Goa University at the behest of a nascent political party. What right do the politicians and students have to wrongfully restrain Dr. Satish Shetye (Vice Chancellor of the varsity) in his chamber for hours together? It is unfortunate and equally shameful how certain newspapers, editors and social activists too sided with the erroneous students merely to gain populace.
The basic premise of the students (whose side seems to be even upheld by the Chief Minister) is that the Dhempe College held special remedial classes for them in lieu of their less attendance. But is the College entitled to hold such classes? Is it not an injustice inflicted upon those regularly attending the lectures? Were the aggrieved students not aware of the possible circumstances before missing their lectures for fun and frolic? If this is the type of academic culture out politicians to establish in Goa, then Goa has no great future. In addition, had the Principal secured permission of the University VC before conducting the so called “remedial classes”?
If the politicians and new political mushrooms were really interested in ensuring that the mandatory attendance clause is deleted from the rule books, why did they not challenge the clause before the Courts, despite the Vice Chancellor advising them to do so? Or was this fiasco a mere attempt to win the support of young students for the party which is a new entrant in Goan politics? What pains me most is that leading the students in this illegal and immoral act which compromised the autonomy of the Goa University was a former Principal of some of the important education institutions in Goa, who is now incidentally among the top office-bearers of the new party.
