E-Paper
Students speak out their mind at open-house meet
AN OPEN house meet was held at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-K) to consider the ways and means to check the recurrence of suicide cases on the campus, following the suicide by a student, Shailesh Sharma, on Wednesday.
Plead for change in grading system
AN OPEN house meet was held at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-K) to consider the ways and means to check the recurrence of suicide cases on the campus, following the suicide by a student, Shailesh Sharma, on Wednesday.
This was the second suicide case in the current academic session. The open house meet which had started from 10 pm on Saturday continued till 1 am.
Director of the institute Dr Sanjay G Dhande, dean of student affairs Dr Prawal Sinha, faculty members and the students of the institute participated at the meet. Condemning the existing strict ‘grading’ system, the students urged the authorities to be practical while maintaining the higher educational standards.
Dr Dhande and Dr Sinha asked the students to give constructive suggestions to put an end to ‘depression syndrome’ among the students which often led them to take extreme steps like suicide.
The fourth year students laid stress upon the three main points connected with reforms in the educational system at the institute.
They suggested that any student who got F grade should be allowed to take re-examination in that paper. So far facility for re-examination was not available at the institute.
Another suggestion was that the list of F grade students should not be displayed on the common notice board. Such students should be informed about the result through the members of the Counseling Cell. The members of the Counseling cell should have the right to recommend re- examination of the student considering his mental state and his preparedness about the re- examination.
The students further said that in case a few students could not pass any of the course even after three or more attempts, they should not be forced to clear all the 50 courses related to their branch during the four-year term.
Such students should be given an ‘honourable exit’ and no grade should be mentioned in their certificate, against the course which they could not qualify.
This would let them free from tension of wasting years at the institute and of the fears of ‘no placement’.
The students, however suggested that a minimum number of courses be fixed for granting ‘honourable exit’ to the students who are unable to qualify these courses.. Benefit of honourable exit scheme could not be given to those who have failed in several courses, they said.
Besides they suggested that instead of scolding and threatening such students, the faculties be considerate with them, realising their practical problems and interacting with their parents. There were several other suggestions which came forth during the discussions and were appreciated by the faculty.
