Teachers’ fight eclipses future of 150 students
Students of N C Bodiwala Commerce College fail in internal assessment. Plea for grace marks go unheard as principal and teachers refuse to talk to each other, solve the issue
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, May 06, 2011 (Pg- 1) (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/20110506201105060218455173b73948b/Teachers%E2%80%99-fight--eclipses-future-of-150-students.html)
In-fighting among teachers and principal of N C Bodiwala Commerce College in Kalupur has left the fate of over 150 students hanging in the balance. Commerce students of first year, second year and third year are falling short of pass marks in internal assessment.
Their plea for grace marks fell on deaf ears as the principal passed the buck onto teachers who assessed the exam papers. In turn, the teachers — who are reportedly at loggerheads with the principal and college management — claim grace marks can be granted only if the principal wills so.
Internal score comprise marks for attendance and behaviour, as well as a percentage of marks got in first and second term exams. If a student scores well in university exam but fails in internal assessment, he is considered fail.
This explains why TYBCom students at the college were worried. “FYBCom and SYBCom students need not fret much as they can appear for the re-test while still in college. But imagine the plight of TYBCom students. We will lose a year because by the time the re-test is conducted, admissions for higher studies will be over,” said a third year Statistics student, seeking anonymity.
‘No one pays heed’
The internal assessment list was declared four days ago. Most students flunked in Statistics, Commercial Communication and Business Law. These are taught by three female teachers who reportedly have a quarrel with the management.
Angered by the result, students tore the list displayed on the noticeboard, raised slogans and marched to the principal’s cabin. “The principal told us the teachers are the ones who can grant us grace marks. But he refused to talk to them. When we approached the teachers, they agreed to do the neeful if the principal asks them to,” said a student of Business Law, adding, “The fight between teachers and management has intensified over the past year, affecting our studies negatively. Forget teaching us properly, they haven’t even taken our attendance regularly. And now this! We had complained to the management and principal about the teachers’ behaviour in class but they paid no heed. Now, our future is being sacrificed to fuel their war.”
Principal Jayantilal Patel admits that most students have failed in one of the three subjects. “It is up to the teacher to grant grace marks to students. I have faced several problems in the past where these three teachers are concerned, so I will not approach them. It is for them to think what is best for the future of the students. If they give me the corrected internal list in a day or two, I will submit it to the university. Once the list is sent to the varsity, nothing can be done,” he says.
‘We just check papers’
In her defence, Deeptiben Shah who teaches Commercial Communications says: “We just evaluate the papers. The internal assessment committee is responsible for collating and finalising internal marks. We do not know who has failed or passed.”
Throwing light on the matter, a college official said, “The three teachers are trying to prove that they have assessed the papers in a righteous manner. And by doing so, they are implying that others who may have given grace marks are wrong. Whoever is right or wrong, it is the students who are suffering right now.”
Think of students: V-C
The three teachers have earlier filed complaints of harassment against the principal and three other teachers with the university. The four were also arrested after the women teachers repeatedly lodged complaints against them with the local police, Joint Commissioner of Police and even the home minister. They were booked for criminal intimidation among other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Parimal Trivedi, Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat University to which the college is affiliated to, said: “The college is responsible for internal assessment. We do not interfere in such matters. However, the teachers and principal must put aside their differences and think of the students’ future first.”
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, May 06, 2011 (Pg- 1) (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/20110506201105060218455173b73948b/Teachers%E2%80%99-fight--eclipses-future-of-150-students.html)
In-fighting among teachers and principal of N C Bodiwala Commerce College in Kalupur has left the fate of over 150 students hanging in the balance. Commerce students of first year, second year and third year are falling short of pass marks in internal assessment.
Their plea for grace marks fell on deaf ears as the principal passed the buck onto teachers who assessed the exam papers. In turn, the teachers — who are reportedly at loggerheads with the principal and college management — claim grace marks can be granted only if the principal wills so.
Internal score comprise marks for attendance and behaviour, as well as a percentage of marks got in first and second term exams. If a student scores well in university exam but fails in internal assessment, he is considered fail.
This explains why TYBCom students at the college were worried. “FYBCom and SYBCom students need not fret much as they can appear for the re-test while still in college. But imagine the plight of TYBCom students. We will lose a year because by the time the re-test is conducted, admissions for higher studies will be over,” said a third year Statistics student, seeking anonymity.
‘No one pays heed’
The internal assessment list was declared four days ago. Most students flunked in Statistics, Commercial Communication and Business Law. These are taught by three female teachers who reportedly have a quarrel with the management.
Angered by the result, students tore the list displayed on the noticeboard, raised slogans and marched to the principal’s cabin. “The principal told us the teachers are the ones who can grant us grace marks. But he refused to talk to them. When we approached the teachers, they agreed to do the neeful if the principal asks them to,” said a student of Business Law, adding, “The fight between teachers and management has intensified over the past year, affecting our studies negatively. Forget teaching us properly, they haven’t even taken our attendance regularly. And now this! We had complained to the management and principal about the teachers’ behaviour in class but they paid no heed. Now, our future is being sacrificed to fuel their war.”
Principal Jayantilal Patel admits that most students have failed in one of the three subjects. “It is up to the teacher to grant grace marks to students. I have faced several problems in the past where these three teachers are concerned, so I will not approach them. It is for them to think what is best for the future of the students. If they give me the corrected internal list in a day or two, I will submit it to the university. Once the list is sent to the varsity, nothing can be done,” he says.
‘We just check papers’
In her defence, Deeptiben Shah who teaches Commercial Communications says: “We just evaluate the papers. The internal assessment committee is responsible for collating and finalising internal marks. We do not know who has failed or passed.”
Throwing light on the matter, a college official said, “The three teachers are trying to prove that they have assessed the papers in a righteous manner. And by doing so, they are implying that others who may have given grace marks are wrong. Whoever is right or wrong, it is the students who are suffering right now.”
Think of students: V-C
The three teachers have earlier filed complaints of harassment against the principal and three other teachers with the university. The four were also arrested after the women teachers repeatedly lodged complaints against them with the local police, Joint Commissioner of Police and even the home minister. They were booked for criminal intimidation among other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Parimal Trivedi, Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat University to which the college is affiliated to, said: “The college is responsible for internal assessment. We do not interfere in such matters. However, the teachers and principal must put aside their differences and think of the students’ future first.”
