UoP error leaves students fuming

Marathi medium students unable to attempt business administration examination as university provides question paper only in English

Marathi medium students unable to attempt business administration examination as university provides question paper only in English

Of the 3,380 SYBCom students appearing for the business administration paper yesterday, at least 1,300 could not attempt the paper. Reason? The University of Pune (UoP) had printed the question paper only in English, much to the consternation of these 1,000-odd students for whom the medium of instruction and study was Marathi.


Language barrier: University promised students a re-examination at the
same centre and same time on April 11. Representation pic

Infuriated, student groups gathered outside the vice-chancellor's office after the exam and started shouting
slogans. "The examination started at 3pm and the paper was for 80 marks. As soon as I got the question paper I realised the mistake and asked for a Marathi paper.

But the college said that this was the only set of question papers supplied. When we protested we were asked to either write or leave as university hadn't given any instructions to colleges," said one of the aggrieved students, who wrote his exam in Garware College. "After about 30 minutes, a professor came and translated the questions and even offered us additional time to complete the paper. But by then too much time had been lost and we had lost our concentration. We got together and approached the university," he said.

R K Shevgaonkar, vice-chancellor and Shivaji Ahire, controller of examinations, met the students and promised to conduct a re-examination. "We met students and they told us about the goof-up. In certain centres, the papers didn't reach and that's why we have promised to conduct a re-examination on April 11. All students from Marathi medium who wish to appear for the paper can appear for it at the same centre at the same time," said Ahire.

Second time, same chaos
On Tuesday, a similar situation had occurred during the business communication paper that the same set of students had been appearing for. Though their medium of instruction is Marathi, the students were forced to write the paper in English as it had become mandatory to answer it in that language. Angry students complained to the controller of examinations who promised to look into
the matter.