Partha meets CU officials over BA results

Kolkata: State Education minister Partha Chatterjee on Monday met senior officials of Calcutta University at his office in Bikash Bhavan, in the wake of poor results in the BA Part I examination.

The minister was apprised of the changes in the examination procedure from 2016, which the varsity feels has been the reason for the poor performance of the students. It has been learnt that Chatterjee has left it to the varsity to take some concrete decision in this regard.

The minister expressed his disappointment over the agitation at CU main campus, in the wake of poor results and said that outsiders are inciting the students in this protest. "It is being witnessed that in any problem associated with the university, the outsiders are chipping in. I am keeping an eye on this. It is not desirable that you will agitate when you have failed," Chatterjee said.

It may be mentioned that a section of students blocked the main gate of the varsity, preventing teachers and senior officials of the varsity to get out of the campus. They were demanding re-examination and awarding of pass marks to them. Some student organisations have stood by the agitating students and have submitted deputation in this regard to registrar Rajagopal Dhar Chakraborti.

The registrar, along with pro vice-chancellor (academic) Dipak Kar and some other senior officials, held a meeting with the minister that lasted nearly two hours. "The university will take the final decision in this regard. We will be holding a meeting of the syndicate, the highest decision making body of the varsity, where we will also look into the problems of the students," Kar said.

"If there is a question over the standard of education, the government will intervene and seek explanation," Chatterjee told reporters after the meeting.

It may be mentioned that CU has ushered in a change in the examination pattern from 2016 in BA and BSc examinations, that had come into effect with the results that was announced a few days ago.

According to the change, a student with Honours in both Arts and Science streams, is required to clear the honours subject and has to pass at least in one of the two subjects in the pass course. For BA and BSc general students, the candidates have to clear at least two of the three pass subjects.