Engineering students with ATKT in trouble

More then 1,000 engineering (BE) students who have completed third year are in trouble as they have been dropped due to ATKT (Allow To Keep Term). It means they will have clear back papers as per varsity rules to advance to the fourth year.

What do these students fear?
A new syllabus is being introduced in 2015-16 academic year, and a Credit Based and Grading System (80/20) is already in place. Hence students fear their academics and placements would be affected.

How will academics be affected?
Students who have more than five ATKT cannot sit for VII semester exam. Only after clearing their ATKT this November, can they advance to the fourth year in 2015-2016, when they write semester VII and VIII exams. And in 2015-16, a new syllabus will be in place.

What do students want?
They want varsity to allow them to write VII and VIII semester exams (under the old syllabus) this academic year itself after they clear their November ATKT exams. According to these students, in 2009, through an ordinance MU allowed (circular with dna) BE students to do this.

What's the problem with credit-grading system?
Marks obtained in the past three years will have to be converted to grades and they fear that may affect their academics and placements.

What students say
Ravi Raj (name changed), said: "I have more than five ATKT in my third year. I cannot advance to fourth year unless I clear them this November. But the new four-year syllabus and the credit grading system will affect my academics and placement.

In 2009, MU allowed students to clear their ATKT as well as write both VII and VIII semester exams in the same year. We should also be allowed to do that."

Kamlesh Shah (name changed), said: "I too will face similar problems. We have written to controller of examinations and VC to allow us to clear ATKT and final year semester exams in the same academic year."

What controller of exams says
Dinesh Bhonde, controller of exams, MU said: "The exam department will have no problem in allowing students to take ATKT and final year exams in the same academic year if the issue is brought to its notice by dean of engineering. May be the equivalence committee or academic council can take a decision on this."