SPA students fail attendance test

On Monday, School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) set an unseen precedent against students falling short on attendance.

On Monday, School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) set an unseen precedent against students falling short on attendance.

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The administration has not allowed almost one-third of the total students across first, second and third year of the department of architecture to sit for their final examination.

According to the University Grants Commission, students must have a minimum of 75 per cent attendance over the whole year to appear for the examination.

The detained students, however, are accusing the institution of not providing them adequate warning beforehand or a chance to improve upon their attendance.

“Though this rule has been around, but it was never implemented in our department in last five years. No one in my batch was detained last year for short attendance. This is why we did not take the rule seriously this year, too,” said a second year student of architecture, who did not wish to be identified.

“And if we are really short on attendance then why were we allowed to have our work assessed by the external jury (external examination) which took place last month?” added a first year student

While the SPA Director refused to comment, Neerja Tiku, head of department of architecture, said that this was an attempt to ensure that the non-academically inclined students fall in line.

“I can’t talk about why we weren’t strict about attendance till last year. But we had decided that this time we would not allow any one who does not take his lectures seriously. We had provided enough warning to these students,” said Tiku.