University students seek West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee help over exam confusion

KOLKATA: A large section of intermediate-semester students from several colleges and universities have written to chief minister Mamata Banerjee and vice-chancellors of state-run universities to resolve the issue of examinations and to bring clarity about the evaluation method.
The state’s decision to promote students of the intermediate semester without an exam has worried students because they have to take two exams together as and when they are held.In their letter, students pointed out that in the UGC guidelines, there is no mention about merging of the two semesters. “The second- and fourth-semester students have to study two major portions of the syllabus and take the exams simultaneously. Also, if the 80-20 weightage pattern could be allotted for the terminal semester students, then why should a similar decision not be implemented for the intermediate semester students as well?” questioned the letter.
Fearing a setback due to the excessive pressure over appearing in the examinations for both semesters, either successively or together, the students sought intervention of the state.
Rabindra Bharati University VC Sabyasachi Basu Raychaudhuri confirmed receiving the letter.