Attendance circular from Tamil Nadu's Madurai Kamaraj University leaves students worried

Attendance circular from Tamil Nadu's Madurai Kamaraj University leaves students worried

Madurai Kamaraj University's newly-announced attendance prerequisite for semester examinations has left students and professors confused and worried.

Published: 27th December 2021 10:55 AM

Madurai Kamaraj University.

By Express News Service

MADURAI: Students of non-autonomous colleges under the Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) are worried about not being allowed to appear for the November semester examination owing to attendance shortage. A recent circular issued by the Controller of Examination regarding the attendance cap has also confused the college principals.

The circular stated, "The number of total working days has been fixed as 90 days. Students who have attended the classes for 68 days or above will be permitted to appear for the semester exam without any precondition. Those who have attended the classes for 67 to 59 days will have to apply for exemption in the prescribed form with remarks of the principal for condonation of attendance along with a Rs 360 fee. Those who have attended classes for 58 to 45 days can take the exam only next time... Students who attended below 45 days of classes have to repeat the whole semester again."

This regulation is applicable to both UG and PG courses. Principals have been asked to submit the attendance report on December 29, even as the last working day is January 12.

Speaking to TNIE, a principal of one of the non-autonomous colleges said at least 50 per cent of the students might have to sit out the semester exams if the regulation is followed. "Neither the government nor the varsity had announced that attendance is mandatory for online classes. Only around 20 per cent of the students attended them. When the in-person classes resumed in September, it was conducted on a shift basis, and regular classes began only in November. No student would be able to clock 90 working days between September and January 12," he added.

S Ganesh, a student, claimed while appearing for online exams previously, the MKU had not insisted on any attendance restriction. "So, we did not bother about attendance for online classes. Now, this circular has come as a huge shock to us," he rued.

The principal of another non-autonomous college said principals could themselves decide on how to assess attendance. "Though the varsity has asked us to submit the report on December 29, the principals, while calculating the attendance, could include the classes that their students would attend till January 12. At the same time, we will not issue hall tickets to those who have very low attendance," he added.

Responding to the issue, MKU Controller of Examination (I/c) M Dharmaraj said as per the UGC's Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) norms, students require at least 75 per cent of attendance. "Those who have attendance between 65 and 75 per cent can also appear for the examination by paying a fine. Colleges can calculate the attendance percentage out of their total number of working days," he noted.

"At MKU, one online class equals two hours' attendance. Similarly, online seminars, library classes and everything will be calculated. It is purely the principal's discretion. Earlier, the university used to issue hall tickets for all students whose names were on the nominal roll. Then the principals' had to distribute the hall tickets to students based on their attendance. Those who had attendance shortage used to bother the principals to permit them also to write the exams. In order to reduce the principals' stress, the MKU is now seeking the attendance report," he added.

Speaking to TNIE, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU) Vice-Chancellor K Pitchumani said, "MSU is yet to issue a circular in this regard. Principals of our affiliated colleges have all records for online classes. Now, the number of working days has also got extended. It is completely the principals' decision on how to calculate the attendance."

State has given Covid-19 ex gratia of Rs 50,000 to 20,934 beneficiaries: Tamil Nadu Health Min

State has given Covid-19 ex gratia of Rs 50,000 to 20,934 beneficiaries: Tamil Nadu Health Min

Speaking to reporters, Subramanian said 42,671 people had applied online for the compensation, of which 20,934 received Rs 50,00 each.

Published: 27th December 2021 07:00 AM 

Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Sunday said the State has so far given Rs 50,000 ex gratia to 20,934 eligible people who lost their kin to Covid-19, as promised by CM MK Stalin. The total amount disbursed till date in this regard is Rs 104.67 crore, he added.

Speaking to reporters, Subramanian said 42,671 people had applied online for the compensation, of which 20,934 received Rs 50,00 each. The remaining 18,863 applications are pending, he added. The CM had launched the scheme on December 8.

The State government has also distributed a total of Rs 93.15 crore to family members of frontline workers who lost their lives to the virus. Each family received Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia, as announced before, he said. The minister added that Rs 207 crore has been distributed to 6,483 children who lost both their parents or one parent to the virus.

He was responding to Opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami’s statement urging the State to give compensation to people who lost their loved ones to Covid-19, as promised by the Chief Minister.

Internal panel to probe UoM exam scam

Internal panel to probe UoM exam scam

UoM officials said on the basis of the findings of the inquiry committee, if required, a police complaint will also be registered.

Published: 28th December 2021 06:57 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The University of Madras on Tuesday will constitute an internal committee to probe an alleged scam where students not registered with the varsity had written the online degree exam in December 2020.

The scam was unearthed recently, following which the Syndicate had announced last week that it would form an inquiry committee. However, due to the Christmas holidays, the panel was not formed last week. “We will finalise the members who will be part of the internal inquiry committee on Tuesday and soon it will begin the probe,” said Vice-Chancellor of the varsity, S Gowri.

UoM officials said on the basis of the findings of the inquiry committee, if required, a police complaint will also be registered. “The committee will probe the case from all angles. We suspect involvement of a few staff of Institute of Distance Education’s study centres, which have become defunct now, and a few varsity officials who helped in generating serial numbers for these fake candidates,” said a senior official of the university.

Recently, a few students approached the university seeking issuance of their degree certificates. When officials verified the permanent pass register, there were no details of the students, which led to unearthing of the scam.

Centre, states to discuss booster shots in online meet

Centre, states to discuss booster shots in online meet

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai:28.12.2021

The Centre will hold an online meeting with states on Tuesday where the finer details of booster rollout and vaccination of children are going to be discussed.

The ‘precaution doses’ (boosters) for health and frontline workers, as well as those above 60 with co-morbidities, will begin on January 10. Vaccination for children aged 15-18 will begin on January 3. The roll-out is not going to be difficult, said Dr Pradeep Vyas, additional chief secretary. An estimated 20% of the state’s adult population falls in the bracket of 60+ years.

State immunisation officer Dr Sachin Desai said that 91% of frontline and 90% of healthcare workers have taken both doses, but not many are likely to qualify immediately for the booster shot, which will be given 39 weeks after the second dose. Additional municipal commissioner Suresh Kakani said the BMC is geared up to vaccinate an estimated 9lakh teens, 11 lakh senior citizens and 3lakh frontline and healthcare workers. The city has 451 vaccination centres to support the upcoming drive.

Guv Mishra asks Raj varsities to implement NEP without delay

Guv Mishra asks Raj varsities to implement NEP without delay

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Jaipur:28.12.2021

Governor Kalraj Mishra has asked all state universities to implement the New Education Policy (NEP) at the earliest. He said the policy was not only promoted self-reliance through skill enhancement but was also based on India’s cultural values.

The governor was addressing the concluding session of the meeting of the State Universities Vice-Chancellor’s Coordination Committee at the Raj Bhavan on Monday. All 27 vice-chancellors of the state were present.

Mishra said the universities should find ways to generate resources to become financially self-reliant. "Universities should spread awareness about India’s freedom struggle and popularise local heroes by organising exhibitions and seminars under the Amrit Mahotsav of Azadi," said Mishra.

He directed the varsities to set up ‘Centers of Excellence’ and provide education through the state-of-the-art teaching methods through them. Adopting villages under social participation and developing them as smart villages with facilities with the cooperation of state government departments at various levels was discussed in the meeting.

Chancellor Mishra directed that an integrated policy should be adopted for providing free education to specially-abled students in all universities of the state and the tenure of the post of the registrar in universities should be for a minimum period of two years.

"A system of inter-student transfer in universities under the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) in the NEP should be developed. Uniformity should be maintained in making the Constitution Park and rest of the universities should also complete this work on priority," said Mishra.

Minister of state for higher education, Rajendra Singh Yadav, said the vicechancellors and registrars should work with mutual coordination considering quality education as the top priority in the university.

He suggested the vicechancellors should apprise the education department of the work plans of the universities so that proper provision can be made for them in the upcoming budget.

Bharatpur man kills dad to claim ₹4 lakh as insurance

Bharatpur man kills dad to claim ₹4 lakh as insurance

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Jaipur:28.12.2021

A 30-year-old man from a Bharatpur village along with his two friends killed his father to claim insurance money of Rs 4 lakh.

The youth, Rajesh Singh, had purchased four insurance policies in the name of his father, identified as Mohkam Singh, with a total insurance claim of Rs 4 lakh after his death. According to Deeg police, who had arrested the accused on December 25 after the trio were found in suspicious circumstances near Kosi, the murder was made to look like an accident.

The three were caught by a Deeg police patrol when they tried to hide themselves in the Kosi area from the cops.

‘No marks on lower back, shoulders that are usually found in road accident’

Jaipur: “When our team was passing, they hid themselves behind a tree. They were unable to give satisfactory replies to our questions. We arrested them for disturbing peace,” Deeg SHO Rajesh Pathak said. Later, on Sunday, the police found the bloodstained body of Mohkam Singh on the road near Kosi.

“Prima facie it appeared to be an accident. However, it was found that except for some head injuries, the body did not have even a single mark on the lower back or shoulders which is usual in road accidents. So, we suspected it to be a murder. We enquired about his relatives and were told that Singh had a son who was in the village itself. Soon, we found that Rajesh Singh, the deceased’s son , was already lodged in our police station for disturbing peace. We interrogated him and he confessed to the crime,” Pathak said.

“The three persons, Rajesh (30), Vijendra (25) and Kanha (26), who were arrested by us for disturbing peace, had committed the murder,” he said. Asked about the details of the crime, Pathak said, “Rajesh’s brother had died in a road accident a year ago when he was working in Faridabad as a delivery boy. Following his death, his wife had received a lot of money as insurance. This prompted Rajesh to insure his father and kill him to claim the money by making it look like an accident.”

“Soon, we found that Rajesh Singh, the deceased’s son, was already lodged in our police station for disturbing peace. We interrogated him and he confessed to the crime,” Deeg SHO said

Exempt property tax for educational institutions: AIMES

Exempt property tax for educational institutions: AIMES

Omer bin Taher

Hyderabad:28.12.2021

All India Muslim Educational Society (AIMES)-Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Monday urged the state government to exempt educational institutions from property tax, impact fee and compounding fee for residential buildings used for educational purpose across the state.

A representation submitted by MS Farooq, advocate, general secretary, AIMES-Telangana and AP, to the government stated that the proposed act of the municipal department may cause several educational institutions in the state to shut down.

“We want the state government to withdraw the GO as it is affecting the low-budget private schools that are mostly housed in residential areas. The schools have been asked to submit the applications online by December 31, 2021 along with 50% penalty fee. As per the GO, the state would collect impact fee, compounding fee and property tax with penalty from owners or occupiers of buildings that have been converted into commercial or school buildings from residential buildings,” Farooq said.

He said that due to the pandemic several schools remained shut which resulted in many private unaided schools shutting down permanently as the managements were unable to bear the taxes and rents or collect fee.

“Various state governments have exempted property tax for residential buildings in use for educational purposes as they are sharing the responsibility of the state sector in providing access to education on non-profit basis,” stated the representation “The present GO, if implemented, could be the final nail in the coffin for many unaided schools as the managements may not cooperate in paying penalties proposed to be collected,” Farooq added.

A representation submitted by AIMES-Telangana and AP stated that the proposed act of the municipal department may cause several educational institutions to shut down