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Why Attendance Marks are Unfair

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One of the most debatable regulations of the University of Delhi is that of attendance marks. Not only does it restrict one’s right to choice, but also poses as a forceful and logically unfair rule. Though the concept of minimum attendance can still be logically debated, attendance marks must be scrapped.     

One of the most debatable regulations of DU is the allocation of marks in accordance with percentage attendance.

Clause 2.2.3.  (http://grs.du.ac.in/Important%20University%20Rules.htm)

There shall be 5% weightage for attending lectures regularly. The credit rating is as follows:

67-70%: 1 Mark
70-75%: 2 Marks
75-80%: 3 Marks
80-85%: 4 Marks
85% above: 5 marks

Though this should not be considered an objection to the minimum attendance criteria, marks for attendance is not a fair practice and can easily be ruled out with reason if the authorities are willing to listen.

It is an almost ‘forceful’ method of making the students attend the classes and is based on the wrong assumption that marks, an indication of a student’s capability and understanding of the curriculum, will increase in relation to the number of days one attends college. College is a student’s choice and the people who are genuinely interested in the lecture will attend it irrespective of this, while the others who attend college for the 5 “free marks” end up disrupting the teaching-learning process entirely. The college logic is somewhat like:at the age of 18, our students, who have the right to vote for who governs us will definitely not have the intelligence to decide how many classes they must attend. It needs to be understood that the ‘students’ they are teaching have already developed their character, thoughts, and decision making power. It is not logical to thus, regulate matters of their ability to choose.

Instead of keeping marks as the incentive, DU should work on making its classes interesting enough for students to attend on their own. They must note the attendance in order to judge the classroom experience. When teachers know that to avoid teaching empty classrooms they’d have to work hard, it is sure to raise the level of teaching!Furthermore, it is important to note that not all the students live in the same proximity to the campus. Some students are one hundred twenty minutes away, while some others live right inside the campus. The proximity makes the task of attending the classes difficult or easier respectively,and is therefore, not fair to all. Last minute cancellation of classes or a single class a day further discourages students who live far away from attending  college.

Marks are supposed to be given to those students who are aware about the course they are pursuing. However, this rule is just a like a transaction of time to gain marks. Just by attending classes one cannot guarantee that the student has gained any more information about the subject. It is important to see how this system also leads to partial score inflation. Aftera student’s score on tests or other assessments increases,it does not reflect any genuine improvements in learning. Due to this, the final marks of a student with less aptitude may even be greater than that of student with more aptitude. Attendance has turned just into a formality! It is now rather the reverse psychology that further demotivates the students.

Darshita Sharma, a student from Sri Ventakeshwara College, says, “This actually moulds the student’s mind in a way where they just have to fight for marks.Relating marks with everything will not really help educating students.”

Furthermore, it needs to be mentioned that learning can happen outside the classroom too! One’s CV is not decorated by marks alone. One needs to indulge in extra curriculum, internships, and work experience  in order to make one’s impression. These don’t always provide ECA or work according to the college timings and therefore, are the easiest way to lose out on attendance. However, the student is still gaining practical knowledge; something that can never happen within the classroom. But it is reflected badly on the CV with lesser marks.

Lastly, it should not be thought that it is a drastic new change. DU’s FYUP had done away with this ordeal and it’s time to scrap it for the others too.

Professor Jenny from the English Department of Miranda House is one amongst the many lecturers who disagrees with the system. Providing alternatives, she said, “Instead of hyper focusing on attendance, we need to give more importance to creating syllabi that is relevant for students from diverse social locations , move out of the boring lecture mode of teaching , have smaller classrooms and make the classroom a more interesting and interactive space. For this we need more funding in education and a rethinking of educational policies, both at the primary and higher levels.”

 

 

Image Credits : TimeSheets

Khyati Sanger
khyati.sanger@ymail.com

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Campus Central

The Ongoing War: Attendance Vs Admit Card

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As mid-semester examination are approaching, the age old tension of attendance shortage is being clearly visible on many students faces. With lots of hustle and bustle, students manage to get a high percentage to land in India’s best university but then the monster of attendance still manages to get a 100% in every educational institution.
Let’s hear what the experts have to say on this at Quora:

“This really depends on which college you’re in. Some colleges are super strict about these rules, and some are super relaxed. To give you an example of the range, I know people who’ve had no problem collecting admit cards for their exams with 4% attendance, along with people who’ve had to sign bonds for 65% attendance, just to be able to site for exams. The fluctuations happen because even though the University has a common guideline of 67% attendance, colleges end up making their individual rules for attendance requirements. Depending on how seriously your college takes this matter, the possible consequences are: Relaxed attendance rules

Go ahead and collect your admit card, without any hassles.

Moderately strict rules

You’ll have to sign a bond that says that you’ll maintain the required attendance mark in the coming semester.

Very strict rules + Very low attendance%

You’ll be debarred from the exams, and parents might be involved. This situation might incite hunger strikes and protests from the affected students in the college.”

As per 2016, sources said that more than 100 students, whose attendance was below 66.67 per cent, have been detained across all colleges in the University. While some colleges such as Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU) College has detained 48 students, Dyal Singh College has detained 55 students across 15 courses. “We have detained 48 students this semester across all courses. Their continuation in the college is subject to two conditions — if they have cleared their first semester papers, then they will come back next year when the incumbent batch reaches the second semester. But if the student has not cleared his first semester papers, but has been detained in the second semester too, he will lose his seat in the college,” said SK Garg, principal, DDU College.

Now only the dates of receiving admit card will decide if medical certificates can still save the students’ careers!

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat

Naimisha

davmun092@gmail.com

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Arts & Culture

Unregulated Attendance: A boon in disguise?

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Attendance is hardly a worry for DU students. But it might be the very thing that makes DU students different from others. It has its downsides, but it does encourage students to use their time in extra-curricular and engage in a whole lot other activities.

It is hardly a secret that many of the Delhi University colleges don’t quite regulate the minimum attendance required by students. As per the rule, students need to have an attendance of at least 67%. But as things stand, only a few actually abide by the policy and fulfill this criteria. And even though it might not be seen as something to brag about, it might actually be the trick to help students groom themselves. The university offers much more to its students than just plain studying and unregulated attendance might be the tool that triggers the participation level of students in various activities ranging from cultural events to society work. Because students are relieved from fulfilling the attendance quota, they are left with ample time to do something worthwhile. And that is when they use this opportunity by catering to their interests or pursuing other vocational courses widening their grid of learning and putting in the effort to do something beyond academics.

Today, students of the University, who are into theatre, dance or music devote day and night in practice and go on to perform in different cities, showcasing their talent and excelling in their respective field. While students who are into literature, entrepreneurship and fashion invest all the time they need to come up with something new. And if not these, others can join politics or even become a freelancer. This rebate of attendance given to students is the key to students being able to look into much more than just studying. At the college level, when everyone wants to shape themselves for the future, unregulated attendance acts as the factor that provides the students with an extra dimension of learning. It helps them possess an extra attribute which otherwise, wouldn’t even have been discovered by them. This freedom that the students get actually gives them the opportunity to explore more about themselves and ignites a passion in them to make the most of it.

Today, students of Delhi University participate and achieve in national and global-level competitions excelling in various arenas. They are adding much more than just a degree on their resume. They are adding an extra skill, discovering their hidden talents and doing what they like in free spirit. They are letting creativity meet potential to harness something more out of themselves. And none of it could have been possible without the freedom provided by unregulated attendance. So, the next time we think about why do DU students do much more than students from anywhere else, we all know what to thank for it.

 

Feature Image Credits: The Great Handshake

Karan Singhania

karans@dubeat.com

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News

Sharda University students denied admit card

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Students at Sharda University were denied their admit card for their examinations due to low attendance, this led to a campus wide protest of the students against the staff. Over the past week, Sharda University had disbarred around 100 students from appearing for the upcoming examinations on the provision that they had failed to fulfil the necessary criteria of 65% attendance. Under this provision, students with 50%-65% attendance will be able to appear for examinations if they sign an undertaking/bond promising that they would improve their attendance next semester. Hence, in the following semesters the necessary attendance becomes 75%.

On Saturday, around 150 students got into a fight with the security personnel while entering the campus. The university authorities called the police helpline for immediate assistance, but failed in lodging a complaint against the students. The students also say that the university had allegedly created a ‘student benefit fund’ clause to the undertaking due to which all erring students have to pay Rs.10,000-Rs.30,000. The welfare fund will receive this amount if the student fails to acquire the necessary attendance. The fund is meant to cultivate welfare within the students and the staff. Due to which, the students allege that the university management extorts them unwillingly.

Many students say that their low attendance was due to genuine problems, such as suffering from illnesses and attending to urgent and unavoidable family matters. They were also willing to show their medical prescriptions to the management, but the authorities did not agree. Even those who have 63% attendance are being asked to pay Rs.10,000 along with the undertaking. Following these events, the management said that students will be fined only if they fail to attain necessary attendance in the next semester. Late in the evening, the management decided to let erring students appear for the exams from Monday by making them sign an undertaking, without the deposit.

The issue of attendance has become a rising concern within all Universities, including the colleges in DU. Different colleges undertake different mechanisms for dealing with low attendance, due to which there is a lack of uniformity within the administration of all colleges. Some colleges are lenient with their attendance policies and do not create a fuss regarding low attendance, but certain colleges are very strict regarding their attendance policies, due to which their students are made to sign undertakings. These increasing cases of attendance mishaps across colleges and universities call for a necessary change in the system, it seems.

Photo Credits: Hindustan Times

Joyee Bhattacharya

(joyeeb@dubeat.com)

 

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Spo(r)tlight

Delhi University sweeps several sports at BITS Open Sports Meet 2015

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BITS Pilani recently conducted the BITS Open Sports Meet(BOSM), its annual sports fest from the 18th-22nd of September. The fest, in its 30th edition witnessed record attendance as well as participation. Colleges from all over India descended on the golden sands of Pilani to give stellar performances. Many new sports events were added to the itinerary. BOSM also hosted its first ever prof-show, a music concert by the immensely popular electro- indie band “The F16s”. The organizing clubs and departments then kept the crowd entertained with numerous fun games and events- like Human Foosball, zorbing, street football and Anti-Chess. The renewal of the LAN gaming competition was a hit as well, witnessing huge crowds either to play or just enjoy the action!

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Several colleges from DU had participated in BOSM this year. Shri Ram College of Commerce clean swept all 3 categories in the Chess competitions. The basketball teams from SRCC also put forth telling performances on the court and deservedly won the boys’ event and narrowly lost out in the finals in the girls’ event. The boys beat the equally amazing Hans Raj in the final. Sri Venkateswara, or Venky as their fans here called them, comfortably won the football event beating BITS Dubai in the final.

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The fest was a roaring success, right from the opening ceremony to the finals on the last day, everyone who attended had been thoroughly entertained. The rain, as is customary during every BOSM, tried to throw the spanner in the works on the opening day itself, but the sheer enthusiasm of the audience and the resilience of the participants and the organizing committee was enough to chase the clouds away and BOSM went off just as planned.

How the fest betters itself next year, only remains to be seen.The success it had this year was unprecedented.

 

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Campus Central

Students of Law Fac Organise Protest March Against University Authorities

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The students of the Faculty of Law, as well as the students who are trying to take admission in the Faculty of Law, organized a huge protest march starting from the main gate of the Arts Faculty and it culminated inside the Faculty of Law. The main reason for organising this protest march was to make the University authorities aware of the malpractices that are going on with total support from the admission committee and with full guidance and support from the Dean, Faculty of Law.

There have been several cases of mental harassment as well as vulgar abuses against the existing students who have been detained due to personal biases and also against girl students who are trying to seek admission in the Faculty of Law. Several cases of students seeking admission in the Law Faculty being booed with filthy abuses have been reported. There have been several complaints regarding this from the students to DUSU. Students seeking fresh admission to the Faculty, as well as those currently enrolled, came out and joined hands, expressing their solidarity against the Dean in what has been described by some students as a “tyrannical” rule.

Current students of the Faculty have been facing constant harassment at the hands of the Dean as they have been detained on account of shortage of attendance, the stipulated requirement of which is 66%. These students spread out overall three years of the LL.B. course found themselves in these unfortunate circumstances only 4 days before the start of their end-semester examinations. When they approached the Dean and other members of the Faculty, they were humiliated, verbally abused and made to run from pillar to post. They allege that they have been detained without warning and have fallen victim to the rivalry between the Faculty and the administration. As if the testimonies of the current students did not disincentivise an admission seeker from applying to the Faculty of Law, students have been made to wait for hours on end to be able to procure and submit their LL.B. Entrance Forms in the sweltering heat. The counter to submit the forms opens an hour late and the lunch hours are flexible to the whims and fancies of the staff. Upon making a complaint, students were abused verbally and the staff did not even heed to the presence of female students and continued to use filthy language which is not expected from a faculty of their caliber.

Students, fed up with the situation, approached the DUSU Office and through its President, Shri Arun Hooda, a complaint was made. Instead of readdressing the grievances of the students, the faculty, hand in glove with the college administration, falsely framed the student leader of misconduct. The Dean’s attitude and approach has made many a student regretful of their association with the Faculty and fresh admission seekers are thinking twice before applying for admission on account of the harassment meted out to them. The protest was carried out in the Faculty premises and the students marched near Gate No.4 and a memorandum of their grievances was submitted to the University authorities. Appeal has been made by these angered student community for stringent action against the Dean and an enquiry into the issue at hand.

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News

World Cup Hero Detained by Stephen’s

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It has been known since decades that St. Stephen’s College is a very unique college in campus, and that it follows its own rules and has always remained very set in its ideas. There is no denying the fact that it is one of the most sought after college in Delhi University, but it is also true that it has the image of being quite fixed in its ideologies.

This comes very evidently to us today after Unmukt Chand captain of India’s under 19 side, who just brought the country great pride by winning the world cup and hitting a 111 runs in the final match was detained by his college for low attendance. A student who should have been given great honour for his remarkable performance in the World Cup was shown a chit of no promotion in college shortly after he returned. Earlier also, Unmukt, a student of BA Programme was barred from taking the second semester exams owing to low attendance.

The entire Indian cricket fraternity is baffled at the state of affairs. MS Dhoni also tweeted “This incident shows the lack of importance and respect given to sports in India”. Unfortunately this incident has taken place besides the fact that Unmkut Chand has been academically inclined throughout the year, he had earlier secured a first division in his exams which is credible for a sportsperson with such hectic schedules. An international player who has dedicatedly played for the country can certainly be excused by the college for low attendance.

However, the Stephen’s principal Valson Thampu on his part said that he had no control over the University rules, and only the administration can make an exception. All are now geared up for the court hearing on 16th September that will decide our young captain’s fate.

 

Picture credits: Additi Seth

 

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Campus Central

Fresher Facets

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54,000 students take admission in Delhi University every year. But are they all of the same kind? I don’t think so. Here I take a look at the very many facets of this unique species called “fresher”, spotted only in and around the DU campus! (1) The “rag me!” – These freshers are the ones who come to experience the quintessential Delhi University life. They are so interested in trying out everything that is “so DU”, that they even want to be ragged! I encountered one such fresher during my college orientation; she actually stood up and told her seniors, “I want to be ragged. Shall I do a dance number?” (2) The “chilled out!” – These types of freshers are not even remotely scared of their professors. They never submit assignments on time, their course book probably wouldn’t show signs of human touch and their short attendance would probably be excused with an easy medical certificate. They believe that college is a place where one should just take it slow, and they certainly are in no hurry to end the post-boards-enjoyment-break. (3) The geek and nerd – The type of freshers who their college studies seriously are the ones who are mapped in this category. The only problem is, a bit too seriously. They’re always found in the library or with a professor, trying to gain an even higher level of expertise in their respective skills. No doubt, the Sheldon Coopers of DU excel in academics and are likely to get placed in a good job, but some amount of fun wouldn’t cause any harm, would it? (4) The “I will try for every college society” – These kinds of freshers are exactly the opposite of nerds. They take every ounce of advantage that DU’s vibrant ECA circuit provides. They will audition for almost every society, and try to participate in as many activities as the college allows them to be in. They make their presence felt and are usually quite popular in their respective colleges. Probably a rare sight in classrooms, their professors might not recognize them if they ever enter the classroom (if they get a break from rehearsals that is). (5) The social activist – This category of freshers usually comprises of the ones who aim to join politics in future. They are rarely involved in extracurricular activities, but try to make the most of student unions, organizations, Parliaments. They aim to make it to ABVP or NSUI, and hope to become the DUSU president in their final year. (6) The “trying to fit in” – This division of freshers try hard to fit in and gel with the crowd. But at times, their efforts become a wee bit over-the-top. They will shop till they drop. Looking for the trendiest bags, tops, jewelry and other stuff that comes with a “popular in DU” tag. However, after some time, the excitement wears out and people come back to the evergreen jeans and tee combo. See what category you fit into and tell us! P.S. in case you’re wondering what category I belong to, I’m a mix of category 3 and 4!   Picture credits: Additi Seth]]>

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Your Beat

Marks for Attendance

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attendanceAgainst

Einstein while explaining his relativity theory of time gave the example of how one hour with a gorgeous woman seems like a second and a second at a boring conference seems like an hour. Similarly, a fifty minute lecture with a teacher can vary from seeming like two minutes to fifty hours and in the case of the latter, you are sitting in the class wishing desperately to get out but you cannot! Why? Because DU rules say that five per cent of your score is determined by your attendance. This rule compels so many of us to attend boring lectures where we have no interest in the subject or as is more common, where we are blessed with a wonderful teacher who manages to completely kill our interest in the subject. They say that this rule is necessary so that the teacher does not have to face an empty classroom. I find that attitude defeatist. At the age of 18 (when most of us enter college), do they really think that we have the wisdom to choose which MPs will govern us but not have the intelligence to decide which classes we must attend? As it is, we do not have too much choice regarding the subjects we wish to study in the Indian system. At least in college we should be able to assert our choice. The argument about no one attending classes if we do not have marks for it falls on its head when we look at what a truly great teacher can do. At a very famous DU college a professor’s classes are so famous that while he’s teaching even the window sills in the lecture room are filled with kids. People turn up even when they know they will get absolutely no marks for attending, so surely if the teaching standard is great students will turn up. On the other hand, if students attend classes just for the sake of marks but pay no attention in class, does that really help anyone at all? When teachers know that to avoid teaching empty classrooms they’d have to earn it, wouldn’t it raise the level of teaching? Doesn’t this give us an instrument of protest against bad teaching? If the authorities do decide to accord some respect to our ability to make our own choices they’ll realize for a fact that most students are in fact quite keen on actually learning and it will encourage a love for learning.

At the end of the day, keeping aside all debates on the efficiency of exams and the process of checking, aren’t our marks supposed to be a reflection of how deeply we understand the subject? Does attending a few lectures less than the other person really translate into having a deeper understanding? I doubt that. Doling out marks for attendance only limits our choices. And as an Economist has famously said, limiting my choices mostly limits my happiness.

For

Popular culture would have us believe that college life is one joyride with having fun being the only objective of students and studies being some vague entity they are hardly concerned with. Bunking classes in the higher interest of Chilling and contributing to the friendly neighbourhood chaatwala’s revenue is but natural and classrooms are there only to accommodate all the furniture. Most of us would like to believe in this romanticized version of college life and consider the attendance rule a major bubble-burster, but what we seem to be forgetting is that DU is an educational institution with teaching and learning being the primary aim and for this aim to be achieved, a few rules are necessary.

Let’s face it. If it weren’t for the lure of the 5 extra marks reserved for those with an attendance of 85% or more, most of us would definitely not have attended as many classes as we do presently. Though everyone grumbles about this regulation, they fail to realize that it is not a compulsion but an incentive. You have the freedom to bunk as many classes as you want without losing any marks at all. The university doesn’t punish those who fail to turn up for lectures, it only rewards those who do. I just don’t understand why anyone would have a problem with a rule that gives one extra marks merely for sitting around in classrooms.

Though 5 marks don’t seem like much right now, it can actually make a lot of difference in the larger scheme of things. 5 marks can convert a second division into a first, a fail into a pass, a commoner into a topper and so on. In short, five marks can make or break you. Instead of protesting against this ruling, students should be celebrating it and making the most of the opportunity. By imposing this regulation on us, the management is not curbing our rights, but broadening our scope to score marks. The rule, far from being a pain, is actually a blessing in disguise.

Admittedly, sitting under the fan in a classroom doesn’t really test any skill (except, perhaps one’s patience) and therefore deserves no extra marks. But in this way, the regulation is an equalizer. It cuts through all intellectual barriers, for once giving the average student the chance to score just as much the topper with sheer determination and well, endurance.

Summing up, the attendance rule is just a harmless, democratic tool to ensure that classrooms don’t remain empty and makes life a lot easier for the majority of us. It’s time we stopped objecting to every little rule and instead, start figuring out how to make them work us instead.

(This article has been equally contributed by Shraddha and Aina)

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