Bunking class is fine with college!

PUNE, May 14: You want to play truant - It's fine.'' This tough stand has been adopted by the Symbiosis Institute of Business Management ...

PUNE, May 14: 8220;You want to play truant 8211; It8217;s fine.8221;

This tough stand has been adopted by the Symbiosis Institute of Business Management SIBM. It has slapped a mighty sum over 50 final year MBA and MPM students, failing which their term will not be granted and the hapless lot will not be able to appear for examinations from May 16.

When contacted, SIBM director Dr Pramod Kumar admitted that heavy fines ranging from Rs 1,000 to 3,500 have been imposed. 8220;If students secure placements, they stop attending classes and to maintain academic standards, this fine will prove to be a deterrent for future batches not to treat the semester lightly,8221; he averred.

Final year MBA II and MPM II students were shocked to learn of the fine which was displayed on the notice board on May 9. The fines were imposed after checking the cumulative attendance from January to April. Students with an attendance less 50 per cent will be fined Rs 3,500 while those with an attendance between than 50 and 60 per cent will have to cough up Rs 2,000. Students with an attendance between 60 to 70 per cent will be fined of Rs 1,000.

While the aggrieved students have submitted a written complaint to the University of Pune authorities, on the condition of anonymity, they raved about the unfairness of the fine. In their memorandum to the University, the students have alleged that imposing fines on them was a devious, inhuman and cruel way to collect money under the pretext of inadequate attendance.

They have charged that the entire system of marking attendance was wrong and while initially a list of over 90 students was issued in April, the final list shortlisted only 50-odd students. Pointing out the disparity in both lists, students have pointed out cases where one student who despite being in USA was shown to have 26.67 per cent attendance. Similarly in the case of another student leaving the college in the first semester and not reporting for other classes, he has been marked with a 9.38 per cent attendance.

When asked about these charges, the SIBM director refuted them and stated that the first list was issued to warn students after which several promptly attended classes for the remaining month. So the final list was definitely different, he said charging that students sometimes out of mischief signed the register against the names of other students which is why certain students who were not present for the course were marked.Suchinth Kumar, president, Students Council, SIBM, defends the institute8217;s action in charging the fines. 8220;Since February, defaulting students have been time and again reminded about their attendance. While it is within the purview of the Director not to grant their term, after much deliberation, an option of imposing a fine was decided upon.8221;

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8220;We are not going to compromise on academic standards and the money collected as fines will be put in a fixed deposit. A scholarship will be instituted from this money for students of the next batch,8221; the SIBM director said.When contacted, Dr Santosh Dastane, controller of examinations, said that a written complaint had been received from the students and assured to look into the matter.