SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, February 17: Ranchi University (RU) has finally given the nod to St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi, to hold various undergraduate and post-graduate examinations pending since 2022.
Principal Dr Father Nabor Lakra SJ happily announced today that Vice Chancellor Ajit Kumar Sinha has given his consent to conduct UG (NEP) 22-26 onward, UG (VOC) 2022-25, and PG (CBS)2022-24 examinations.
First-semester exam in April 2023
The students, admitted in 2022, took their first semester examinations in April 2023. The university still needs to declare its results. The university gives no credible reason, while insiders say that the official responsible for it is on leave for a long due to some personal problem.
The inordinate delay in holding examinations forced over 12000 students to sit idle, leading several students into depression.
“Several of them are under treatment at the Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP),” pointed out a teacher requesting anonymity.
“We still don’t know when the examinations will be held,” he added.
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Not only that. Several have become in-disciplined, too, as they don’t attend classes regularly. “We are not in a position to discipline them. Also, we don’t know what to teach them when they have not cleared their second semester,” said another teacher.
Financial hardship
“The inordinate delay led several students to face financial hardship,” pointed out an undergraduate student. “I know a female student from Delhi who was admitted here. She was forced to find a menial job to sustain and continue her studies here,” said a student.
UGC restored autonomy on November 15, 2023
Notably, the University Grants Commission (UGC) restored St Xavier’s College autonomy on November 15 last year, yet Ranchi University insisted on holding the examinations. Later, Raj Bhawan intervened and asked the university to allow the college to have the examinations. “Yet, it took over two months for the college to hold the examinations,” pointed out a science teacher.
“Given the pace of Ranchi University, a student will take at least 16 years to clear a four-year course in Jharkhand,” pointed out a parent.
The college, started by the Ranchi Jesuit Society on July 3, 1944, lost its autonomy last year after the NAAC grading held in May 2022 granted the institution a B+ grade.
Ranchi University took over the college’s examination procedure under UGC norms after the autonomy expired.
Expiry of autonomous status deprived the college of designing its syllabus, restructuring and introducing courses, preparing its own admission rules and conducting its exams.
“We suffered a lot after RU over the examination procedure. Our session was late as the university did not hold examinations on time. Also, our syllabus did not match the syllabus adopted by the university,” pointed out a teacher, requesting anonymity.
RU lethargy
The university’s lethargy has not put the students of St Xavier’s College into trouble alone. It is out to ruin the careers of thousands of students studying in various colleges at Ranchi University.
B Ss (Nursing) exam due since 2022
Over 3000 students were admitted to 51 Nursing Colleges to pursue B Sc (Nursing) courses in 2022. According to a Nursing college principal, they are yet to write their first semester examinations. Worse, the university still needs to complete their registration, a prerequisite to hold the examinations.
Ironically, the university conducted the first semester examinations of the 2021-25 batch in 2023. It conducted the supplementary examinations for the batch in December last year, as most students failed.
Financial crunch for Nursing colleges
As a result, private nursing colleges are facing financial hardship, too, as the students have yet to pay their fees after the first semester. “Whenever we approach the university, the VC gives merely empty assurances,” lamented a college official.