Bangalore University Bundles All Its Foreign Students Into A Single Exam Hall

Bangalore: Nearly 1,500 foreign students in various colleges and courses across the city are troubled by just one question: Why? A question triggered by Bangalore University which has decreed that henceforth, all of them will write their examinations at one centre.
In a circular dated October 19, a copy of which is with STOI, BU directed colleges to instruct foreign students to report to Kristu Jayanti College for their exams as per the time-table. While the affected students were apprehensive to even speak to mediapersons about it, college principals were incensed, more so because the university gave no reason. But R M Ranganath, registrar (administration), says it was done to provide them with a “good centre”.
THE CIRCULAR
“Contact the principal of Kristu Jayanti College in person and submit the list of foreign students of I, III and V semesters of both freshers and repeaters to the exam centre on or before October 25. Also provide cooperation, coordination and assistance as required by the institutions where the exam is held,” states the circular signed by T R Subramanya, registrar (evaluation) of BU.
The circular further states that under no circumstance should foreign students be put to any inconvenience, and that, “If any foreign students takes the exam other than in Kristu Jayanti College, his/her result will not be declared.”
The university has asked colleges to rewrite the address of the exam centre as Kristu Jayanti College in the admission ticket of foreign students and issue them after an attestation by respective principals. Also, a list of foreign students who have paid the exam fee, course details and subject details semester-wise need to be submitted to the principal of Kristu Jayanti on or before October 25 to enable the college to make necessary arrangements to conduct the examination.
However, practical exams will be conducted in respective colleges.
PRINCIPALS CRY FOUL
Principals have termed the circular a “preposterous move” and “bound to add confusion to the muddle”. They have written to the vice-chancellor that there is no reason why foreign nationals should travel to only one centre to write the exam. “What wrong have they or their institutions done?” principals asked. They added that most foreign students, unfamiliar with the city and not knowing the language, stay in hostels, rooms and as paying guests close to the colleges. Asking them to travel to a new exam centre is subject to harassment and places them at a disadvantage. “They may lose their way and not reach the centre in time. We need to treat all students equally,” a principal of a first grade college, who didn’t want to be named, told STOI.
Another upset principal said, “Most students stay near their college. We can arrange transport for one day but how can we arrange every day? Moreover, officials are not giving any reason for this decision.”
Principals feel this move will result in confusion over register numbers. “It’s unjust to discriminate on the basis of nationality. This move will bring disrepute not only to BU but to the country as well,” they said.
WHAT BU HAS TO SAY
“We have about 1,500 students from over 10 countries. We want to provide them with a good college as an exam centre. We’ve started with Kristu Jayanti College; next time it’ll be another college and it will change on rotational basis. The main parameters for selection is ambience and infrastructure. We’ve taken into consideration representation from college principals and discussed the distance factor too. We’ll see how it works for students and based on feedback, we’ll decide later,” said R M Ranganath, registrar (administration), BU.
Shruthi Balakrishna | TNN


DISCLAIMER:
The article has been taken from the newspaper "TIMES OF INDIA" for the best interest of Tanzania students and foreigners who are studying in Bangalore that is why we have decided to post it.