The University of Madras vice-chancellor G. Thiruvasagam, who had announced a slew of concessions and new schemes for the under privileged and physically challenged, et al on his recent assumption of the top charge of the varsity, has now come out with new concession to the Tamil refugees.
Sri Lankan Tamil refugee students will henceforth have the opportunity to pursue courses offered by the university free of cost. He makes this gesture falling in line with the slew of concessions showered by the Tamil Nadu government last week on Tamil refugees.
After Syndicate meeting, addressing media persons in Chennai on Saturday, Dr. Thiruvasagam said that the eligible refugee students can pursue their undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through the distance mode, from where they stay as they were scattered across different camps. The initiative was aimed at encouraging them to pursue their education. From the next academic year, affiliated colleges would also reserve a few seats for such students to pursue higher education free of cost, he added.
Prof. Thiruvasagam said the University would follow reservation system in Ph.D admissions, in the regular as well as part-time programmes. “We are one of the first universities in India to take this decision.”
The University has also constituted a core committee to look into the issue of delay in declaration of examination results. The committee, comprising college principals, representatives of teacher associations and University officials, will draw schedules for examinations, evaluation and declaration of results.
“We have enhanced our manpower, updated our technical tools and also made the decision-making process for the same more participative, including our faculty.” The University has decided to keep colleges closed between December 21 and January 6, 2010, in order to facilitate an uninterrupted evaluation process.
The University has also decided to make its academic programmes more application-oriented. “Hereafter, 60 per cent of the question paper will test students’ theoretical knowledge, and 40 per cent will test the student’s ability to apply concepts practically.”
He also said that students with disability could produce a letter and obtain permission to use scientific calculators in examinations. “If a student’s nature of disability warrants it.”
- Asian Tribune -
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