One can almost hear that sigh of relief from post-graduate (PG) students of the University of Mumbai. If the credit-based semester system is implemented for all post-graduate courses from the next academic year, those who don’t clear a paper or a practical examination need not appear for all the papers the next time, as is the case now.
The university has about 5,000 PG students in 54 departments. Courses like economics, sociology, philosophy and chemistry have had a credit-based semester system in place for the last three to five years, and the university plans to extend the benefits to students across the board.
Nearly 50% of the first-year MCom students fail to clear the exams every year, said sources from the university. Science and arts students fare slightly better — with a pass percentage of 60%-70%.
Exam house sources pointed out that most students fail in just one or two papers. They are allowed to keep term, but they have to re-appear for all the subjects in the next examination. An MSc final-year student, who recently re-appeared for a practical examination, nodded in agreement.
According to Dr Avinash Patil, a professor from the Birla College, “Many PG students also work . The chances of failure then are high. The proposal will help such students.”
The academic council is expected to take a call on the proposal at its next meeting on December 21.
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