Jadavpur University: Students continue hunger-strike, professors support them
What's the story
In West Bengal's Jadavpur University, students, on a hunger strike for more than 48 hours, have found support from the professors, who have opted out of the admission process.
Almost 20 students started a hunger strike on Friday against the University's decision to scrap entrance test for admission in Humanities stream.
The health condition of the students has started deteriorating.
The reason
But why are the students protesting? Here's the answer
On July 4, the Jadavpur University did away with entrance test for admission in Humanities stream and made marks scored in boards the sole criterion for a seat in the esteemed institution.
The authorities believed this would bring uniformity, but students said the admission process couldn't be the same for Science and Humanities streams.
They want the old admission process to be restored.
Politics involved
There seems to be a political angle to it too
Agitating students also feel the decision was taken under pressure from the ruling Trinamool Congress, to hamper the autonomous status of the university.
The authorities claimed the scrapping of tests for six undergraduate courses namely- comparative literature, history, political science, philosophy, English and Bengali, was done only for this year, but students didn't accept it.
Vice-chancellor Suranjan Das offered to resign on Friday after protests.
The development
As students stage protests, professors join them
The hunger strike gave huge momentum to the protests, which the students said will continue until the demands are met.
Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA) staged demonstrations and informed the chancellor about the students' health. JUTA's assistant secretary Partha Pratim Ray said they haven't heard from the chancellor's office yet.
Many professors of English, Bengali and comparative literature didn't participate in the admission process.
Quote
The standard of Jadavpur University may fall, JUTA spokesperson says
"Admitting students solely based on marks may lower the high academic standard of JU arts faculty, as we will have to admit candidates without proper evaluation of their writing abilities. This is a departure from the JU's long-tested standards," a JUTA spokesperson had said.
Details
Meanwhile, 200 former students support students, sign a statement
Slamming their alma mater's decision to scrap entrance test, about 200 former students signed a statement, mentioning why the examination was important for the University.
"The entrance examination has enabled these departments to gain talented students year after year," the statement read.
They added, "The larger implications of this administrative decision concern the scope and function of higher education in this country."
Questions raised
Amid protests, TMC leader says opinions of teachers, students matter
Trinamool Congress MP from Jadavpur, Sugato Bose said the decision should be taken by JU authorities and opinions of both teachers and students should be taken into account.
But looks like the strike will last longer than expected. On Sunday, chairperson of the Arts Faculty Students' Union (AFSU) Somashree Choudhury ruled out the possibility of ending the demonstration.
Engineering students too joined the protests.