Students demand head of department's resignation.

The Times of India: Lucknow: Wednesday, April 11, 2012.

The failed MBA students of Lucknow University continued their protest against alleged anomalies in evaluation of answersheets which have led to more than 50% students failing. Students on Tuesday met university vice-chancellor Prof MK Mishra and presented their demands to him.

Five representatives from MBA first semester requested the V-C to promote students who have got back paper in five out of eight subjects. "In other postgraduate programmes, students who get three back papers out of five subjects are promoted. But in MBA, if we fail in more than two subjects, we lose a year. The passing criterion should be same in all courses,'' said a student.

Another student alleged that Scheduled Caste (SC) students have been deliberately failed by the faculty members. The students demanded resignation of the head of the department, Prof JK Sharma. "Even if we are promoted this time, we will again be failed by the faculty. We want the university to remove our course coordinator,'' said a SC student. In a class of 108 students, 27 hold a year back while another 29 have been failed in one or two subjects.

Students told the V-C that maximum students have failed in four subjects that include accounting for managers, economics, quantitative methods and managerial skills and organizational behavior. The meeting ended after the VC asked the students to give a representation carrying their demands. The students had given a memorandum to the university controller of examination on Monday in this regard.

On the issue, LU spokesman Prof Rajesh Mishra said: "The evaluation of answersheets is done through a coding system. The examiners did not know the name and roll number of the student. Hence, the possibility of caste discrimination is ruled out. Secondly, with the coming in of RTI, the evaluation system has become more transparent and examiners more conscious.'' He added that the students should realise their failure is not a discouragement but a chance for improvement.

LU conducted the MBA first semester exams in December and results were declared on March 31. The students have demanded an early redressal to their problems as second semester examination is scheduled from April 23.