Studies take a hit after 2 months of JNU protests
LOCKDOWN Ever since this semester began in Jan, JNU has been embroiled in intermittent agitations
NEW DELHI: Students from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), who have been protesting, called off a 25-day lockdown of schools on Monday saying they “did not want to inconvenience students” ahead of exams. However, some damage may have already been done. Students and teachers have expressed concerns about not being able to complete the coursework before the end of semester.
Since the current semester began in January, JNU has been embroiled in almost two months of intermittent protests against a mandatory attendance rule, replacement of a dean and seven chairpersons for not complying with this policy, multiple sexual harassment allegations against teachers, and the alleged failure to ensure reservation in research admissions.
Even though the protesters blamed an alleged unwillingness on part of the administration to end the stalemate, both sides appeared to agree that academic progress has suffered due to the standoff.
The lockdown, which began on March 16, came to an end on Monday after the protesting students met the administration who gave them assurances over their demands.
But HT has accessed emails circulated among teachers over the last week, in which concerns were raised about timely completion of coursework. In the emails, some teachers had even asked the JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) to appeal to the students to call off the lockdown. Many teachers are also organising extra classes to make up for the lost time.
Amita Singh, the acting chairperson of Centre for the Study of Law and Governance, said similar concerns were also raised during a meeting of deans and chair- persons held last week, with the School of Social Sciences (SSS) and School of International Studies (SIS) complaining of “complete lockdowns.”
Sudhir Suttar, JNUTA general secretary, said there was “anxiety” among teachers and students, but the teachers have been conducting extra classes to make up for lost time.
The JNUTA has built five “makeshift classrooms” in the parking lot behind the SSS in case some students were still apprehensive about entering classrooms. “As the boycott of attendance is still on, teachers can take the classes here. If a teacher wants to take extra classes, they can use this space for that too,” he said.
Suttar also corroborated the veracity of the emails, which had been shared by another professor.
Even though students and teachers maintain they have been able to continue studies by conducting classes in the parking spaces, canteens, teachers’ association and students’ union offices, they fear enough may not have been covered.
At the SSS, Geeta Kumari, the president of the JNU Students’ Union and an Mphil student, said she has not been able to send “even a draft of the first chapter of her dissertation” yet, even though students usually do so by the end of March and are working on the second chapter by April.
“Almost all students are in the same boat. People kept working even during the lockdown. But you need to have peace of mind to be able to work,” said Kumari.
At the School of Life Sciences (SLS), the lockdown was lifted on March 31 after they got a verbal assurance that Atul Johri, accused of sexual harassment, would be replaced as the complainants’ supervisor.
“But one of the other major reasons for lifting the lockdown was that students needed to use the lab. In a science school, it is almost impossible to hold classes outside the building,” said Preeti Umarao, the student-faculty committee member of SLS, who has been leading the agitations.
Ashwini K Mohapatra, chairperson of the Centre for West Asian studies at SIS, said students, especially those pursuing postgraduate courses, were suffering the most.
“The syllabus should be completed by April end but now we will all take 2-3 hours of extra classes daily. We have not even been able to use our offices inside school building,” he said.
A highly placed member within the JNU administration said they have been able to complete only two of the four units this semester.
“I have not even been able to assign tutorials or assignments to students, let alone conduct it. Academics have definitely suffered... I don’t think the univer- sity would recognise ‘classes’ that are held outside,” the official, who did not wish to be named, said.
According to the JNUSU president, a significant section of students at the university had boycotted attendance this semester. However, the question arises if these students would be allowed to attempt the end semester examinations despite lack of attendance?
“As per the resolutions of the Status
Semester starts Mid-semester exams End-semester exams Semester ends On time
Happening now (over two weeks’ delay)
Expected to start from April 24 (Given course completes on time) Expected to be on schedule (Given course completes on time)
Academic Council and Executive Council... the rule is that 75% attendance is compulsory for semester-end examinations. Now it is up to the rectors and the vice chancellor if this is waived off,” said Pramod Kumar, the registrar of JNU.
JNU vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar and Rector I Chintamani Mahapatra did not respond to repeated calls and text messages seeking their response on the issue.