The decision has been taken during the 146th Academic Council meeting on Friday, with an aim “to improve governance and accountability of all the stakeholders”
After making attendance mandatory for all regular students, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) announced the same rule for the teaching community on Friday. With this, the faculty members will have to give attendance at least once in a day.
The decision has been taken during the 146th Academic Council (AC) meeting on Friday, with an aim “to improve governance and accountability of all the stakeholders”. “While JNU had already implemented the rules of attendance for students and administrative staff, the 146th AC meeting through its resolution has made attendance mandatory for the teaching community as well,” JNU Rector, Chintamani Mahapatra said in a statement.
However, teachers said the matter was not even a tabled agenda item of the meeting. “After discussions on agenda items were over, including a proposal to introduce a biometric system to monitor students’ attendance, somebody made a light joke saying how about the teachers? The Vice-Chancellor abruptly picked it up and passed the verdict. No discussion was allowed on this. It looks like this was pre-decided and therefore immediately as soon as the meeting got over, a statement has been issued by the varsity,” said JNU Teacher’s Association (JNUTA) president, Sonajharia Minz.
Earlier in January, JNU had made 75 per cent attendance compulsory for all regular students, including the research scholars. The move had triggered widespread protests at the campus. And, for the effective implementation of the rule, the university has now decided to make them sign an undertaking in the beginning of every semester.
“The AC also approved a rule that during the registration process at the beginning of every semester, all the incoming and continuing students are required to give an undertaking that they will abide by the attendance rules,” the statement said.
The representatives of students union were not allowed to attend the AC meeting this time, because of an alleged proctorial enquiry pending against them.
Besides, the AC has decided to make JNU entrance examinations completely online. “The decision has been taken after an hour-long discussion on this issue that the admission process in JNU will be completely online. It will now be fairer, efficient, secure and bias-free,” the rector said.
JNU will switch completely to online mode for entrance examinations, to be held in December.
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