ANCSU asks NU to review its marking system

Kohima, June 24 (EMN): The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) has appealed to the authorities of Nagaland University to re-examine the institution’s marking system for examinations.

Declaring that a few ‘deserving students’ from Nagaland had ‘failed to make it through to the required cut-off list’ in some reputed universities in the country, the ANCSU expressed doubts at the ‘practice of low grading system in the state.’

The organisation has appealed to the university to look into the matter at the earliest.

It was during a press conference that was held this afternoon in Kohima town that ANCSU officials questioned the credibility of the marking procedure being followed at Nagaland University.

“Deserving marks is what we are demanding from the evaluators. We are not asking them to unnecessary give liberal marks to the students,” ANCSU President Temjenungsang Jamir said during the event.

“There have been complaints, quite often, by Naga students who go outside to pursue their further studies.”

Echoing the words of Jamir, the ANCSU’s General Secretary Benjong Longchar also wondered about the credibility of NU’s grading procedure. “NU should be more systematic with its grading system so that deserving marks is given to the students,” Longchar said. He said that there had been cases when some Naga students were ‘deprived of the privilege to get admitted to reputed universities due to the low grading system.’

Of scholarships, facility upgrade etc

In another matter, the ANCSU leaders appealed to the department of Higher Education to ensure timely release of scholarship to students. “As observed, most of the students rely on the scholarship to meet their expenditures. It (scholarship) also comes as a monthly source for many students,” the ANCSU’s president said. The union assured to be vigilant about the matter and pursue it ‘so that the welfare of the students will not be compromised.’

There had been cases over the years when students reportedly faced hardships in securing admission to colleges due to limited seats. This has also caught the attention of the ANCSU leaders. The ANCSU’s Programme Coordinator Katho P Awomi proposed upgrading existing colleges in the state.

He referred to improvement of college buildings to accommodate more students; improving guest houses, rooms, and hotels in all the campuses; enhancement of infrastructure facilities for staffers and students.

Also, Longchar proposed conducting compartmental examinations for students who will have to appear ‘backlogged’ papers. In the current system, he said, students are to write for backlogged papers along with the next semester exam; this becomes a burden for students due to the length of examinations. He has suggested that compartmental exams are arranged for backlogged papers, before the next semester examinations are held.

The ANCSU leaders referred to a recent meeting with the vice chancellor of Nagaland University, on June 20: they submitted a representation demanding ‘timely release of documents’ for convenience of students seeking admission in other institutions outside the state. The representation acknowledged the commitment made by the university to declare the degree results on time though.

Further, the union appealed to the authorities to ‘expedite developmental activities.’

“NU is the lone existing central university in the state. The university still lacks proper infrastructure, road connectivity, transportation facilities and other basic amenities,” the representation read. It sought also enhancement of seats for Master’s in all the departments. The ANCSU reminded that Nagaland had very few institutions for one to pursue higher professional degrees.

Administration

Also, the ANCSU sought the intervention of the university’s authority in the process of appointment of assistant professors and associate professors. The representation suggested that assistant professors and associate professors should be appointed in all the colleges according to UGC guidelines with minimum required qualifications. Likewise, the ANCSU asked the university to be vigilant over payment of salary by private institutions to assistant professors and associate professors.

“Many private colleges do not have a proper recruitment procedure,” Awomi alleged.

The ANCSU represents 38 colleges affiliated to it.