‘After charging 5000, KU issues B.Ed date sheet instead of study material’

Srinagar: University of Kashmir is once again in the news for wrong reasons. The University has been accused by the B.Ed students of denying them study material even after they paid 5000 rupees for the same.

“While we enrolled in the KU’s Directorate of Distance Education in 2015, the University has not been able to provide us the study material for 3rd and 4th semester exam in all these years,” said a student, Muntazir Ahmad.

“We paid Rs 15000 at the time of our registration for 3rd semester (second year) out of which Rs 5000 were meant for study material alone,” said the student. He said the study material was to be provided in printed form.

Another student, Zubair Dar said, “Instead of issuing the B.Ed study material, the University came out with a date sheet. This is bizarre!”

“The University is turning into a money-minting machine and a hub of scams due to no accountability at all,” said another student.

The agitated student further questioned, “If we calculate Rs 5000 for an average of 200 students from 10 districts of the valley, it becomes a huge amount of 1 Crore rupees. Where did this amount go?”

A group of students said the University has scheduled their exams from the second fortnight of October. “We can’t appear in exams unless we receive the study material,” they said.

When we contacted Anam ur Rauf, the Joint Controller of Examination, he said, “We issue date sheets only when we receive ‘completion certificates’ from the concerned departments. This certificate is an official confirmation that the department has completed all the formalities including distribution of study material.”

When asked about the issue, G M Sangmi, Director of DDE, KU said, “I have joined the Department just eight days ago. However, we received representation from the students to conduct the exam on time. We will also provide study material.”

As on date, the study material has not been provided neither a notification has been issued even as the exam is just days away.

Meanwhile, there is another issue where the University has failed to safeguard the genuine interests of the students. B.Ed students of private colleges have been held hostage by the varsity due to non-declaration of their results.

The issue has surfaced due to non-deposition of registration fee of 3rd and 4th semester by their respective colleges with the Kashmir University.

The students can not produce their documents / certificates for joining M.Ed programme in Cluster University or the Kashmir University itself as many of them have appeared in the merit list of recently held entrance exams.

“The results of our 3rd and 4th semester have not been declared by the Kashmir University. We have cleared our dues in our colleges but still continue to suffer,” said a student.

The students were enrolled in the KU-affiliated private colleges in 2015 to pursue two-year regular mode B.Ed course. The 3rd and 4th semester exams culminated on May 26 this year. However, the students are waiting for their results till date.

In January, the KU issued a notification that each student who qualified 1st and 2nd semester exams had to deposit Rs 4225 as registration fee for 3rd and 4th semesters. Although the students at that time had opposed this notification, the University did not withdraw it constraining the students to deposit the registration fee with their respective colleges.

However, the college authorities despite receiving the registration fee from the students didn’t deposit it with the KU. On the directions of the court, though the University conducted the exams for the 3rd and 4th semesters of B.Ed, it did not declare the results citing the non-deposition of the registration fee by the colleges.

“We have been rendered ineligible to seek admission for M.Ed course. The University should cancel registration of these colleges if they don’t comply with their directions but why are we being held hostage,” lamented a concerned student.

The students said the B.Ed degree consumed their four years and they are still waiting for the declaration of the results.

When approached about the issue, the University officials said that they are looking to resolve this issue as soon as possible. “We are in talks with private college owners and will try to declare the results soon.”