Lucknow: KGMU’s old students failing to clear MBBS to get "two mercy attempts"

Lucknow: KGMU’s old students failing to clear MBBS to get "two mercy attempts"

TNN | Aug 7, 2021, 04.53 AM IST

LUCKNOW: MBBS students at the King George’s Medical University (KGMU) who have not been able to clear examinations for the last 8-27 years will get “two mercy attempts”.

Those who fail in these two attempts will be expelled. The decision was taken by the KGMU’s executive council on Friday. Currently, there are 20 such students who have not been able to clear the course as they either failed or did not appear for the examination.

The oldest among them is a student who took admission in 1994, followed by another who joined in 1997. The remaining students are from batches between 2000 and 2013.

Of the total, 10 have been failing in the fourth year of MBBS for several years, while eight have not been able to clear the first year so far. Two students are stuck in second and third years. These students have been failing in subjects like surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, and paediatrics.

Most students belong to backward classes or rural backgrounds and had difficulty in understanding the subjects. Some of them even alleged discrimination and lodged a complaint at the chief minister’s portal. The charge, however, was vehemently denied by KGMU which also submitted written evidence of fair play. Till 2019, KGMU had no rule on how many times a student can appear for examinations. After consulting the National Medical Commission (NMC), it was decided that every MBBS student will have to clear all examination within 10 years and only four mercy attempts will be allowed thereafter. Those who fail in all the attempts will be debarred.

However, this rule was implemented from 2019 onwards and did not apply to students enrolled earlier. Later, a committee was constituted to resolve the issue.

“After thorough discussion, we decided to give two mercy attempts to these students. We understand that they are weak and need extra attention. The university will provide remedial classes to clear doubts. Extra classes may also be arranged on the request of students,” said KGMU VC Lt Gen Prof Bipin Puri.