SKMU reviews 'home centre' rule after protest

DUMKA: The examination board of Sido Kanhu Murmu University (SKMU), which met on Monday evening, decided to allow home centres at colleges that have 300 or more examinees. The meting was called after the students of SKMU protested against the administration's decision not to hold Part I and Part II examinations at home centres and gheraoed the vice-chancellor for over an hour.
About 200 students assembled at the university administrative building at 11am shouting slogans against VC Qamar Ahsan, who was not allowed to leave his chamber.Soon after Ahsan took charge, the SKMU administration decided to stop holding exams at home centres.
There are 13 constituent and 14 affiliated colleges under the university. Students of Sahibganj and Pakur were the worst affected because most of the away centres were located 15-20km from the respective home centres. About 24 students appearing for Part-I exams six months ago could not reach the exam centres either because of lack of road connectivity or high transportation cost.
"Many students failed to take Part-I examination because the poor students could not afford the cost of transportation. The university administration should make arrangements at home centres," said Shyamdev Hembrom, a student.
The exam board also decided to postpone Part-II examinations to April 8 from March 26. But SKMU did not review its decision. The agitating students on Monday forced varsity staff to leave office and locked the gate from inside.
Police were called in to pacify the protesters. When asked, Ahsan said, "The decision (to discontinue holding exams at home centres) was taken by the examination board that can only review it." The examination board is headed by the VC.
Students also raised the issue of corruption allegedly being committed at different levels including construction work and examination department.