|
|
|
| October 14, 2005 | Friday | Ramzan 9, 1426 |
More PU students shown the door: Controversial semester system
LAHORE, Oct 13: Controversial semester system continues to take its toll as more students of the Punjab University have been shown the door.
Some 12 BSc (Honours) students of the Centre for High Energy Physics (CHEP) have been expelled for failing to achieve the required cumulative grade point average (CGPA) which is 1.87 or 48 per cent in their third semester.
The Institute of Bio-Chemistry and Bio-Technology had also dropped 10 MSc students this month although they secured more than 50 per cent marks in their second semester. They were expelled as they could not obtain the 2.3 CGPA or 65 per cent marks.
The expelled students of both the departments also included those who had taken the admission on self-finance and already deposited thousands of rupees with the varsity.
According to PU guidelines for the semester system circulated in various departments, to pass a course a student must obtain ‘D’ grade (50 per cent) with at least 40 per cent separately in mid-term, home assignment and final term.
The varsity sources told Dawn on Thursday that the dean of sciences had been asked to listen to the case of the expelled bio-chemistry students.
In his report to the registrar, they said the dean had pointed out a number of flaws in the semester system implemented in various departments.
He said there had been different criterion for the students of BA/BSc (Hons) and MSc. He pointed out the harsh rules of the semester in which students were not even given a second chance to improve their CGPA.
Regarding the case of bio-chemistry students, he said they had been denied justice and should be given a chance to improve their grade.
He also pointed out that the semester committee lacked subject specialists which were necessary for finalizing its rules.
The function of the semester committee is to consult the department regarding converting annual system to semester, implement semester and arrange short-courses in this regard, strictly monitor its implementation and recommend certain amendments to it, if required.
Sources said the members of the committee were not qualified enough to draft the rules of the semester. They said the rules were approved by the academic council without giving a reading owing to a number of items on its agenda.
They said on the one hand the harsh part of the rules was strictly being implemented and on the other its other part like getting the answer-sheet script of each examination shown to students concerned by teachers was completely being ignored.
There are reports that teachers even do not bother to show the answer-sheet script on students’ request.
The students complained that they were not completely briefed on the rules at the time of admission. “Now after spending a year or so in the varsity we will not get admission in any other public institution in this discipline,” they said.
The students who have taken admission on self-finance said their parents had invested thousands on them and if the varsity did not give them an extra chance their future might ruin.
When contacted, registrar Prof Dr Naeem Khan said no uniformity could be brought to the semester system adopted by various departments. The semester rules for different departments varied and had been devised in consultation with the faculty concerned, he claimed.
|
|
|
|
