'Business' of education: Students 'buy attendance' at Bangalore colleges
Bangalore, Nov 20 (DHNS): Collecting penalties from students to make up for shortage of attendance, has become a raging business in several colleges in the City.
The undergraduate semester exams for colleges affiliated to Bangalore University commenced on Monday and a number of students with shortage of attendance had to pay a fine to be allowed to write the exam. While the students are obliged to ensure 75 per cent attendance, colleges are using this as an opportunity for fleecing students. By paying the stipulated fine, students can buy the deficit attendance, and appear for the exam.
In fact, several students with shortage in attendance, who were not allowed to write exams, staged a protest in front of colleges on Monday.
A third semester student said his college has a slab for fines. It is categorised on the percentage of attendance. Students have to pay a fine of Rs 1,500 for attendance between 50 and 60 per cent, Rs 750 for 60 to 65 per cent attendance, Rs 500 for attendance between 65 and 70 per cent and Rs 250 for 70 per cent to 75 per cent attendance. In fact, they have reduced the it this time.
“Last semester, I had to pay Rs 800 for having 74 per cent attendance,” the student added. When asked the reason for reduction of fine this year, the student was told by one of his lecturers that the silver jubilee celebrations of the college this year could have prompted the move. None of the students is allowed to speak to the principal, he said.
A first semester student of BHS College said that he had to pay a fine of Rs 200 for shortage of attendance in every subject.
“The college authorities had said that they will not charge it from next time, but this semester also we had to pay the fine. Many students did not have money. They had to borrow it,” he said.
Not lawful, says VC
Vice Chancellor of Bangalore University Prof B Thimme Gowda has said that colleges were not allowed to collect fine from students for shortage of attendance.
“Students have to follow the attendance criterion, without which they cannot be allowed to write the exam. However, colleges cannot take this as an opportunity to collect money and provide them bogus attendance,” he said. He added that he would inspect these colleges and they would be “taken to task” in case of any discrepancies.