The number of students enrolled for different courses in colleges and universities of our country are in the millions. However, if we analyse the data of students’ attendance in the classes for studies, it would be a maximum of ninety percent. It is a fact that all students are not equally serious about their studies, but are eligible to enjoy all facilities normally available to any student. As such, some students who are basically non-serious about their studies, are found to participate and also organise protests and demonstrations in colleges and universities from time to time on non-academic issues. This is not all. They do try to intimidate those students who remain seriously engaged in their studies.
Generally, the college and university administration don’t receive the official information about the sudden protests, but they try to know about the issue and talk to the protesting students to find the solution and maintain the peace in the campus. However, generally no solution is found in political and non-study matters. Yes, in our democratic system all citizens including the students have the right to raise voices against any injustice in a lawful manner, but that doesn’t give them the license to stop others from living a normal life.
Undoubtedly, if students propose to protest against any issue related to their institution, they should first submit a memorandum to the authority concerned and also express their willingness to talk on the issue in order to find a solution through dialogue. If for any reason this initiative fails, then they have the next option of organising a peaceful protest without disturbing any student who doesn't agree to their protest call/event and also without disturbing or disrupting the normal functioning of their educational institution. If their issues are genuine and are really for the benefit of fellow students at large, the majority of the students are bound to join their protest and then the college/university administration would be very ready to engage with students to find an early solution.
Why do students take admission in any educational institution? Of course, primarily for pursuing their studies further. Isn’t it? The parents/guardians also believe that their children are actually engaged in studies. It is a fact that the majority of parents in our country keep on trying very hard to take care of the tuition fee, hostel expenses, cost of books and other necessary items of the students. Notwithstanding these hardships of their parents, if students engage themselves actively in violent protests and demonstrations, even on political issues leaving their study-related basic commitments, it is very annoying and painful for the parents. Actually, it is found that in most of the cases such students do all these activities impulsively; for getting easy money and/or instant publicity through social media; for obliging any powerful person in the hope of getting some favour in the near future and for some other reasons.
In fact, it is also the responsibility of all the good students and their parents whose number is very large, to impress upon the college and university administration to act effectively and proactively for creating and maintaining a conducive educational atmosphere for the benefit of all.
Yes, in this age of AI, CCTV, Biometric Attendance and some other facilities, it is not at all difficult for the college/university administration to identify those students who are casual about their studies and who are habitually involved in creating undue problems to disturb and disrupt the normal academic activities in the campus. Based on the fact-based information, they can talk effectively to those handful of students individually. Moreover, the concerned parents should also be contacted to inform them suitably about the undesirable activities of such students with a request to motivate them to focus on their studies in future. Even after taking these positive initiatives, if the college/university authorities don’t find any perceptible improvement in students’ behaviour and activities, then they can exercise the last option of taking suitable action against those students as per the prevailing rules of the institution. Actually, all reputed educational institutions across the world have been able to ensure better academic atmosphere in their campuses and thereby facilitate not only the students to receive meaningful education but also to improve the overall ranking of the institution by following such transparent and effective SOP (Standard Operating Procedure).
As always, I'm keen to know what you think on this subject. Hence, I request you to post your comments to share your valuable opinion. (hellomilansinha@gmail.com)
# Published in my Sunday Column of "Morning India" daily. # Click here to enjoy my Blog in Hindi, "Chalte, Chalte" (चलते, चलते)
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