Maharashtra Universities Unable to Take A Call On Promoting Final Year ATKTs Students

Maharashtra Universities are unable to come out with a promoting strategy for ATKTs final year students. 

Like other State Universities that are promoting students on the basis of previous performances, Maharashtra Universities will have to take into account the scores in subjects where students have ATKTs.

What is ATKT?
Allowed to keep terms (ATKT) is a process in the Indian Education system which allows students of pre-graduation and graduation to study in the next grade if they have failed in 1 to 4 subjects.

Close to 9 lakh students enrolled in the final year, out of which one-third, that means 3 lakh students have ATKTs in one or more subjects.

In Mumbai University, Out of 2.03 lakh final year students, 73,000 students have ATKTs.

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On June 19, 2020, Maharashtra Government made final year examinations optional in all 11 Non-Agricultural Universities. Students were asked to give written consent whether they want to write the exam or accept the grades on the basis of previous performances.

Alongside the Apex Regulatory bodies for Professional courses were also asked to endorse their decision of not conducting the final year examinations in the state universities.

The State Education Minister Uday Samant said that he would meet the Vice-Chancellors in the coming two or three days and will take a final call on the matter. 

An official from Mumbai University said, "We can either opt for an average of performances in semesters I to V or we can give averages in semesters II to V. The University can also conclude with semester V scores alone. The universities are unable to take a final call as the state is yet to finalise a policy on students with ATKTs. If we make a decision that doesn't go in the sink with the state's policy, we may have to withdraw it again. This will create confusion. The state needs to come out with a directive for final year students with ATKTs at the earliest."

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Meanwhile, Sudhakar Tamboli, senate member met the Vice-Chancellor to seek clarity on the commencement of the new academic sessions.