Lalit Narayan Mithila University

Darbhanga, June 6: Lalit Narayan Mithila University (LNMU), Darbhanga, has committed to follow the state government’s directive to regularise its academic session from this year.

As a first step towards this effort, the varsity has shortened the duration of classes of the current batches. Students are being made to appear for examinations much ahead of the normal schedule.

The final examination of the three-year degree course is over, while the final-year postgraduate examination at colleges in four districts — Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur and Begusarai — falling under this university are under way since June 2.

“Once results of these examinations are declared, the academic sessions of this university would be regularised for the first time since the inception of the university,” said Vijay Singh, chairman of students’ welfare association, LNMU.

He added that the number of students in the university had increased by 30 per cent in the last academic session. This is the result of the efforts of the new vice-chancellor of LNMU to regularise the academic sessions.

In the new session, admission has increased in various postgraduate departments, apart from Sanskrit and philosophy. “For the purpose of reforming the academic sessions with the university, the syllabus has been condensed up to 50 per cent. We have been told that questions are likely to be asked within the syllabus,” a university teacher said. “The faculty has supported us a lot, which gave us a much-required boost ahead of the examinations, which are going to be held according to schedule,” said Neha Kumari, a final-year student of the postgraduate department of zoology.

Neha added she was expecting the degree course to be over by August if the examinations are held on time. “This way, we can get our degree in just one year,” she said.

Vishwadipak, a postgraduate English department student, said: “I have taken admission in April 2010 and its examination is likely to be held in June. Even the syllabus has not been condensed and we are supposed to cover 40 books in just 65 classes. If the university tries to regularise the academic sessions, it should condense the syllabus and provide special classes so that the syllabus can be completed.”

The vice-chancellor of LNMU, Shamrendra Pratap Singh, told The Telegraph: “The university’s academic session was being regularised in accordance to the government’s directives.”

He accepted the interests of the students from the present batches were being overlooked, even as the university was on the verge of a reformation. “Once the academic sessions are regularised, newly admitted students in different streams will not have to suffer any longer. They would also get their degree in time,” he added.