Mumbai: Poor attendance? Chill, if you are in DY Patil University

DY Patil University’s School of Management, CBD Belapur, brought out the circular on September 2

Are you among those who bunked lectures and now fretting over poor attendance before exams? There is an easy way out if you are a student of DY Patil University. Students with less than 75 per cent attendance can still take their exams by shelling out up to Rs 10,000, conveyed DY Patil University's School of Management, CBD Belapur, through a recent circular.

As per the circular of September 2, the institute asked the students to pay a fine between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 for a reprieve. Varsity officials said the move was aimed at instilling discipline and making students get their parents to come to the institute.

The circular read: "With respect to the attendance committee, the following guidelines are framed for the faculty and the students. 75 per cent attendance is mandatory for the students. However many students request for waiver of this during the examination. Considering their request, the management has decided the following fine to the student not fulfilling these criteria for the year 2022-2023." It said those having 65 per cent to 75 per cent attendance will need to pay Rs 5,000, and those with below 65 per cent attendance will have to cough up Rs 10,000.

A copy of the circular offering a waiver for poor attendance on payment of a fine

As mandated by the University Grant Commission and All India Council for Technical Education, only students with more than 75 per cent attendance are allowed to take the exams by universities and colleges. Others are barred from sitting for the exams unless they can produce a medical certificate and have a logical or genuine explanation for the shortfall.

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Sources said at least 15 students have been debarred from appearing for the exams of over 400 students at DY Patil's B-school.

‘Didn't collect fine'

Dr Gopal Ramamritham, director and HoD, said they were not at all interested in the fine. "The circular does mention it but only as a disciplinary measure. We asked students to get their parents to the institute and we spoke to their parents. We found out many parents were not aware of their children's bunking classes. Also if the fine amount is lower, students will readily pay it against the exemption and their parents might not know that their children have been bunking classes. Those who got their parents and assured us that they will follow the attendance rule henceforth were allowed to appear for the exam. For those who did not get their parents, we did not allow them to appear for the examination. Discipline and sincerity are what we are looking for, not the fine money."

Fine paid, got exemption

A student said the semester V exam started on October 11 and they were not allowed to appear. "One of my friends paid the fine and got an exemption. I submitted my medical file. I had a small surgery. However, that wasn't considered by the attendance committee. I live alone in a hostel, my parents are in another state, hence cannot come down," said a BBA-Finance student.

Another student said, "I sought relief on the grounds that my financial background isn't too strong and I work part-time. I was taunted that I have a job so I can even pay double the fine amount."

The final defaulters' list was released last Friday, said another student. "Earlier they collected a fine of R1,000 per subject from defaulters, however, this time they have issued this circular. Many were told that the printer wasn't functional and the receipt of the fine paid would be given to them next week. Initially, the attendance committee told us to submit medical certificates including lab tests, those with genuine credentials would get a 20 per cent waiver in attendance. However, the waiver was not uniform for all. We have heard from our friends that fines are not collected in other D Y Patil colleges or institutes."

‘Sending wrong message'

Dr A D Sawant, educationist and former pro vice-chancellor of Mumbai University said, "Asking for a fine against exemption means, conveying to the students that it's ok to bunk classes, just pay the fine and appear for the exams." He said public universities like MU have ordinances on exemptions. "Those representing the college, or university in sports and other activities state or national activities get an exemption. Besides this, colleges or universities can give exemptions to students however that has to be uniform not as per individual preferences or fines, etc. They can't just decide that they can reduce the cap from 75 per cent to 60 or 50 per cent."