Jawaharlal Nehru University makes attendance mandatory for teachers

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has made attendance mandatory for teachers. The decision was taken at the university's 146th Academic Council meeting on Friday.

"While JNU had already implemented the rules of attendance for students and administrative staff, the 146th AC meeting through its resolution has made attendance mandatory for the teaching community as well, JNU faculty need to give attendance at least once in a day," JNU rector-1 Chintamani Mahapatra said in a statement.

The university, during the meeting, took a series of decisions on various issues that would "bring about major improvements in academic and research activities of the university."

At the AC meeting, it was also decided that entrance examinations to JNU will go completely online from next session in order to ensure "fair and bias-free" examinations

"An important decision has been taken by the AC to make JNU Entrance Examinations completely computer-based, i.e. online mode. Many members pointed out during an hour-long discussion on this issue that the admission process in JNU will now be fairer, efficient, secure and bias-free," the statement read.

The



Academic Council also decided that during the registration process at the beginning of every semester, all the incoming and continuing students are required to give an undertaking that they will abide by the attendance rules.

In addition, the Academic Council also adopted certain rules and regulations which will improve the governance and accountability of all the stakeholders of the university, such as students, teachers and staff.

The council also took "a student-friendly decision" by making it mandatory for all teachers to show the corrected answer scripts to the students before finalising the grades. "This will help in making sure that all student paper evaluations are fair and transparent," the statement added.

The AC meeting also approved the introduction of a two-year M.Sc. Degree Programme in Mathematics in the School of Physical Sciences.

Mahapatra, in the statement, further said a decision had been taken to put in place a university level time-table. He added that the decision will enable the student community to make choices for taking up courses in various schools and also lead to proper time management and better utilization of available classroom space.