Future uncertain: Students to protest against IGNOU

More than 500 students, 100 principals of community colleges and parents from across the country will gather at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday to protest against the Indira Gandhi National Open University's (IGNOU) decision to keep all activities of community colleges under abeyance. Vanita Srivastava reports.

More than 500 students, 100 principals of community colleges and parents from across the country will gather at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday to protest against the Indira Gandhi National Open University's (IGNOU) decision to keep all activities of community colleges under abeyance.

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Thousands of students have been affected by this decision since they have not been allowed to give any exam nor have they been issued any certificate.

The university took the decision after it got a feeler that many colleges were running as shops, and charging arbitrary sums from students.

The board of management of IGNOU, which met on May 31, resolved that community college scheme should be subjected to a time bound review. The Review Committee constituted by the vice-chancellor was to complete the task in six months. However, even after nearly a year the situation remains the same, causing lots of frustration and anguish among the students who had already enrolled in these colleges.

A student of a community college in Karnal had recently committed suicide. The principal alleged that he had taken the extreme step due to depression over not getting any detailed mark sheet and not being permitted to appear for the exam. "The student was from a poor family. His parents used to come and ask me as to why was the exam being delayed," NK Mahani, principal, GR-IGNOU Community College, said.

Subir Ghosh, president, Association of Indian Community Colleges, admitted that many community colleges were running franchise from their campuses.