Colleges ignore DU directive on attendance, may face music

Delhi University colleges that have failed to upload their students' monthly attendance records on their respective websites may soon face strict action.

Delhi University colleges that have failed to upload their students' monthly attendance records on their respective websites may soon face strict action.

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“Many colleges have uploaded their records but many still remain. A very strong-worded letter will be issued very soon by the administration to all those colleges who have failed to comply,” said Dinesh Singh, Vice Chancellor, Delhi University.

The university in early February had sent notifications to all colleges to upload students’ monthly attendance online. Letters were sent to colleges detailing the format in which the attendance sheets were to be prepared. While many colleges have the attendance page on their websites, very few of them have records of all courses and years.

The Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) has opposed the order.

“We are not against putting up the attendance records online. What we are opposing is the manner in which the orders are passed,” said Abha Dev Habib, member, DUTA. “Also, since the university shifted from the annual to the semester mode, we need to discuss attendance rules separately as annual system rules cannot be applied there the children will suffer,” she added.

While Lady Shri Ram College for Women has uploaded attendance details teacher-wise, Hindu College has uploaded it for a few courses.

The records for many courses in the Miranda House website, however, cannot be accessed. The college attributes it to a software glitch.

“We have not uploaded attendance so far as all teachers have not submitted their records. More than half of the teachers are opposing the demand and we will wait till all of them submit,” said the principal of a west Delhi college who did not want to be named.

University officials maintained that all colleges would have to comply with the order.

“We are going to be very strict about this,” said an official.