It’s so important to understand your good attendance ups your chances of graduating
— Tyra Banks (b1973), American TV personality, model and actress
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No man is regular in his attendance at the House of Commons until he is married
— Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881), British politician, former Prime Minister of UK
Benjamin Disraeli can afford to joke about attending Parliament because he had already achieved what there is to achieve through two terms as Prime Minister. On the other hand, Tyra Banks, already successful across so many competitive arenas, has yet to fight off to retain her eminent position across many fields where she’s made a name. But, for lesser mortals, we have to fight our way to remain relevant and successful. But first, the facts. By the time you read this, over 4,000 students with attendance shortage
would’ve lost a year as they were not allowed to appear for the II PUC exams that commenced in the first week of March 2020. The move by the Karnataka Pre-University Department came before the start of the exams as the students had failed to take note of repeated warnings, messages and notices since September 2019 asking them to ensure 75% attendance. The department had marked these students as ‘short of attendance’ and instructed college principals not to release their admission tickets. It had sent draft admission tickets to all colleges.
The principals were to return the tickets of students ineligible to appear for exams due to attendance shortage. According to Pre-university Board officials, they sent messages to parents, put up lists of such students on college notice boards and sent notices by post.
However, students did not take them seriously. Consequently, the students lost one year. These students will not be allowed to appear for supplementary examinations and will have to get admission to a college as fresh students and appear for exams only
during March-April 2021. Rule 21 of the Karnataka Education Act 2006 specifies that 75% attendance is a must to appear for the final exam. The rule applies even for IPUC, undergraduate, post-graduate and professional courses. According to the rule, if any student falls short of attendance, he/she will not be allowed to sit for the final or supplementary examinations.
All the rules and facts are laid bare. Now, who should be held responsible for the years lost through absenteeism? Is there a way to improve the situation?
