Mumbai Engineering students may get more chances to clear papers

In the recent past, there has been much ado about Mumbai University’s ordinance of September 2002, which made it mandatory for students to clear their Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degree within eight years.

Students have alleged that they were victimised because of confusion over the year the ordinance was implemented. They have also demanded more opportunities to clear exams. The university, once adamant about not buckling under, is now mulling over a scheme to resolve the issue.

An official from the university said, “The students are likely to be given more chances this time. But, the university will enforce strict regulations for all subsequent batches, which will have to adhere to the said ordinance.”

The university has started collecting students’ data from colleges. Semesters I-II and VII-VIII fall under the purview of the examination department, whereas the remaining examinations are conducted by colleges. There will be students with ATKTs (allowed to keep term) from different semesters. Hence, individual data of such students is needed to decide on any scheme.”

The experts, however, have not been able to zero in on a single scheme for such students, he added.

Experts from the same faculty have expressed concern over the quality of these BE graduates. “The credibility and quality of a student passing a four years’ engineering course in 10-12 years is to be questioned,” they say.