Patna University

Patna University students are demanding extra classes during the weeklong Diwali and Chhath vacation since they fear there are less chances of completing the syllabus on time.

The university, which has earned a bad name because of frequent disruptions created by its students that hamper classes, is witnessing a reversal of trend this year.

Since January, at least seven working days have been wasted because students created a ruckus on the premises of the university and its constituent colleges.

However, now the students, mostly from postgraduate courses, believe that since there was a delay in starting the academic session their syllabus would not be completed. They feel that the university administration should arrange for extra classes so that at least a portion of the syllabus could be finished.

The university, however, is not in a mood to adhere. Patna University vice-chancellor Arun Kumar Sinha said: “At the moment we have not planned to conduct extra classes.”

The Diwali-Chhath vacation would start from Saturday. The university would open on November 11 (Monday).

Sumant Kumar, a second-year postgraduate journalism student, said: “We are worried about completing our syllabus because the session had started late. Now, the weeklong vacation would add to the problem.”

According to the university’s academic calendar, the new session for the postgraduate courses was set to start from the first week of August but it started in the third week of September. It had got delayed by seven weeks.

Even worse, there are many postgraduate departments (semester system), which is yet to start the new session. The classes for third semester postgraduate geology department are yet to start.

Ravi Kumar, a second-semester geology student, said: “The problem because of the delay in starting the new session could be gauged from the fact that by this time the classes for the third semester should have started. But till now, the university has not even conducted the second semester examinations.”

The second-semester examination would start from November 19, while the third semester classes are likely to start from the first week of December. Student would get less than three months for their third semester because its examination would start by April.

Ravi added: “The session is getting late. It is a huge challenge for us to complete the syllabus on time. During the third and fourth semesters many of us also prepare for the various competitive examinations. The third and fourth semesters are equally important so we would be doubly burdened that time.”

The students are even ready to spare a few hours if the university conducts extra classes.

Sangita Singh, a second-semester geology student, said: “I am ready to come even for an hour. This would help us in the long run, especially during our third and fourth semesters.”