Distance Education Exams Being Delayed For 6 Months

Agitated students of Bangalore University's distance education programme made it to the 20 exam centres in the city for the annual exam for undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses under the Directorate of Correspondence Courses and Distance Education (DCC and DE) that began on Friday.

The exams are being held nearly six months late following a disagreement between the study centres and the university over the installation of CCTVs in exam centres to curb malpractices.

Students were angry about the casual manner in which the university had messed up calendar of events for the 6,000-odd DCC and DE students. "There are many working professionals like me who have enrolled in the course.

I managed to get leave with great difficulty. Every time we tried calling the university to find out about the exams, we got cold responses. They said the delay was because of the court cases," rued Pooja Umesh (name changed), a BA student.

"I wanted to write the Karnataka Administrative Services (KAS) exam, but now it's too late," she added. Others complained about the unavailability of study material.

Lokesh K. (name changed), who is studying history, sociology and optional Kannada, said the Kannada textbooks came only a day before the exam.

Another student said the study material was of poor quality and looked like a bunch of photocopied texts. "I studies from guides," he added.

Late for PG G.N. Nagesh (name changed), a third year BA student, also pointed out that PG admissions for distance education courses in other universities had already begun.

"I'm a native of Mysore and wanted to pursue PG in Mysore University (through correspondence). I took up the UG course under Bangalore University because I'm working here," he said.

"Now, those who want to apply for PG are left with no other option than to apply to Bangalore University again," he added.

When asked if he would apply again for PG, he snapped: "I've had enough of Bangalore University; not anymore."
Attendance.

But B.R. Niranjan, Director of DCC and DE, brushed aside the criticism saying it would be more streamlined from the next academic year.

"Attendance has been over 80 per cent for the exams, "Mr. Niranjan said in Bangalore on Friday.

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