Hyderabad: The total breakdown of administration at the University of Hyderabad following the suicide of research scholar Rohith Vemula could affect the rest of the crucial final semester.
Senior professors are worried that if the academic session is not restored within a week, it would have adverse impact on the students.
The ongoing semester has already been condensed by three months due to a water problem on the campus. No classes have been held this week, and there is no indication when when normalcy would be restored.
Professors say since that the January-March final semester is all-important and students could lose out on placements, higher education opportunities and competitive and recruitment exams, if classes are delayed any further.
“In normal conditions, the semester duration would be for 16 weeks. This year, it was shortened to three weeks and one more week has been lost due to agitation. Losing four weeks out of 16 is a major loss not only for students but also faculty. It would increase pressure on both,” said a senior faculty member.
Faculty members held a meeting on Thursday on the campus to discuss on how to cope with the loss of working days.
“The university has not declared any holidays. Faculty and other staff are coming daily and leaving since Monday without working. Faculty members expressed serious concern over loss of working days and the lack of clarity regarding when classes would begin,” said a faculty member.
The remaining two months are crucial for exams, certificates and convocation.
“This will be like a chain reaction. If one thing is delayed, it would delay the other things. Ultimately, students would be the sufferers as they would not complete their semester, exams, results on time and apply for higher education opportunities, jobs, various competitive and recruitment exams on time,” opined a senior professor.
