MPhil programme derailed in Calicut University

Kozhikode: Despite governor P Sathasivam directing the varsities in the state to strictly follow a proper academic calendar, the Calicut University is witnessing a situation of having a full academic year of its MPhil programme derailed.

The university, which has been hit by administrative impasse and continued student agitations, has not even issued the MPhil admission notification for the 2014-15 academic year, which is about to end. "The varsity does not have an academic calendar and the conduct of exams and publishing of results are done in a haphazard manner. The delay, when other varsities have already commenced their classes, is highly condemnable," said association of Calicut University teachers secretary P Sivadasan.

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He added that the situation has resulted in the varsity losing meritorious students to other varsities. "The varsity had commenced the MPhil classes on November 1 in 2012. But it is unlikely to start this year which will end in March 2015, since admissions can be given only on the basis of an entrance test," Sivadasan added.

Research scholars in the varsity meanwhile said that they have doubts that the varsity is delaying admissions to avoid paying stipends to the students. "The delay would also lead to loss of one year for the PG students who wanted to do MPhil," said research scholar P Vivek.

Directorate of research (DoR) director Sailas Benjamin said that the delay in MPhil admissions happened due to the introduction of course work in the research programmes.