Why Anna University students are protesting for a new arrear system

The protesting Anna University students were finally assured by the university authorities that a decision will be taken within 10 days on the arrears issue. Around 300 students held a statewide protest on to condemn the current arrear system that allows them to retake the exams in a failed subject only a year after. The protest is being held by the students outside varsity campus in Chennai and outside several affiliated colleges across State, despite being apsked to leave by the police. 

Currently, students who fail in an exam conducted in the even semester will have to re-register and appear for the test only in the next even semester. The rule came into force in all affiliated colleges from 2017 academic year that started on September 1. This is problematic to final year students, particularly final semester students. If they fail in an exam, they will have to wait a year before seeking employment or applying for higher education.

“Students will have to waste a whole year after finishing college before they take the next step in their life. The management should conduct arrear exams in the subsequent semester itself,” said a final year student from Anna University. Earlier, students were allowed to take the exam in the next semester itself. Students allege that the situation is further complicated as they are allowed to take only three arrears in one semester. “If a student has failed in five exams, they have to wait a year to take up three exams and another year to write the other two. This will essentially take two years to pass those exams,” rued another student from Anna University, Tirunelveli, adding that the varsity should not cap the number of arrears they can take.

Speaking to Express, MK Surappa, Vice-Chancellor of Anna University said the university will allow students who fail in the seventh semester to re-take it along with their final semester exams.

“Last week, we decided to make leeway for seventh-semester students alone. The academic council will meet soon and discuss the possibility of conducting arrear exams in the subsequent semester itself,” he said.

(This copy was updated after the students met the administration)