Plans upset, students stare at uncertainty

When Sujal Sheth, an undergraduate class representative in Jai Hind College and National Students’ Union of India president for the college, along with his friends conducted a random survey of students, the results were exactly what he expected.

“Every single student had some plans for the vacation – join a course, do an internship or go on a vacation,” Sheth says.

Students are bearing the brunt of the teachers’ boycott, which led to most colleges being forced to indefinitely postpone exams for the first year and second year graduation course students.

Sheth’s spot survey also threw up some unexpected issues. At least two students are to attend the state-level boxing championship in May. Several students have signed up and paid for a summer school course organised by King’s College, London, in Jai Hind College, to have been held from April 1.

One girl was to have started a professional course in sugar craft from March 29, another had an articleship for the company secretary course almost finalised. Another student had an internship in another state and needed to start looking for accommodation by this time.

All of their plans have gone haywire.

Sheth, 19, a resident of Ahmedabad living as a paying guest in Mumbai, is working in the city’s diamond market. A diamond and gemstones trade event in Hong Kong in June was something he had set his sights on, possibly a major milestone in a career he wants to kickstart really early. “I couldn’t confirm my participation and book tickets – who knows when the exams will be held?”
The teachers’ agitation since February 4 has forced a majority of colleges affiliated to the University of Mumbai to defer their first and second year exams of undergraduate courses.

@DNA