![Engineering students protest at SPPU](http://media.assettype.com/thebridgechronicle%2Fimport%2Fs3fs-public%2Fnews-story%2Fcover-images%2F2Pune_Engineering_students_p.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
PUNE: Around 50 to 60 final year engineering students from different colleges across the city protested outside the main building in Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) on Wednesday as they are facing the possibility of wasting one whole year due to alleged irresponsible attitude by the university.
The protesting students have been failed in one subject in their second-year examination, which they call ‘critical’ subject. According to rules, if a student does not clear all second year subjects by the end of the third year, it is considered to be year-down. The student then cannot take admission for the final year.
“Each one of has answered the examination for these single subjects twice now and we have been failed both times. We applied for re-evaluation and as we have seen the photocopies of our checked answer sheets, we know that there have been mistakes in correction. There are many cases where there are mistakes in calculation of marks. In some answers, instead of cutting marks partially for slight mistakes, they have straightaway been marked wrong. However, no changes have been made in our marks after the re-evaluation results,” one of the protesting students said on condition of anonymity.
While no one from the examination department met the students on Wednesday, the students have indicated that they will go on indefinite hunger strike if their demands are not met.
While the students can be given 10 grace marks in such cases, the students alleged the university has denied them those marks too.
The student said, “We were allowed to take provisional admissions for the final year, but that does not allow us to answer practical examinations. The practicals at almost all the colleges are starting from October 20 or 21, and we will not be able to answer those if our critical subject is not cleared. Also, it will affect our placement interviews, as most of the MNCs do not prefer students who have had year-down or have lost one year of the course. We will also be out of the project work.”
The students had requested the Examination Department of the University to look into the matter for the first time in September, when they were assured that the case will soon be taken up. However, as nothing changed, the students decided to raise their voice again this time, and they alleged that this time, they were mistreated by the officials in the department.
The student said there are many students who hardly need 2 to 3 marks for passing, however, as one of the rules of re-evaluation states that changes can only be made if there is a difference of 5 or more marks, many students are facing a loss. One of the demands of the students is that the students should be given the additional marks they deserve irrespective of any such rules, as it will save their one year.
The students have demanded they be awarded their rightful 10 grace marks.
When Sakal Times contacted Ashok Chavan, Director of the Board of Examination, SPPU, he refused to give comment on the issue.