Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 30: Widespread failures in first-semester examinations at the University of Mumbai's Centre for Distance and Online Learning (CDOL) have triggered protests by students, who have alleged academic and administrative lapses and demanded a review of the results.

According to students, 52 of the 60 candidates enrolled in the Master of Management Studies (MMS) programme failed in one or more subjects during the first-semester examinations. Students have sought re-evaluation of the results, claiming several irregularities in the examination process.

Students also circulated videos on social media alleging that nearly 1,200 of the 1,600 Arts students failed their first-semester examinations. They further claimed that results for some other courses have remained pending for almost four months.

Several affected students approached members of the university senate, stating that they had received no satisfactory response from the university administration.

Senate member Pradeep Sawant and former senate member Rajan Kolambekar met University Registrar Prasad Karande on Wednesday to raise the issue. Sawant later staged a sit-in protest on the university campus, demanding an explanation for the high failure rate.

Students alleged that despite scoring well in internal assessments, many were awarded zero marks in written examinations. They also claimed that study materials were distributed late, only one full-time faculty member was available for the MMS course, limited classroom sessions were conducted, important academic information was communicated at the last minute, and repeated emails to the university went unanswered.

Following discussions with student representatives, the university assured that the pending second-semester results would be declared within 24 hours and promised to address discrepancies between the examination procedures followed by regular students and those enrolled in distance education programmes. The assurances led to the withdrawal of the protest.

Shivaji Sargar, director of the Centre for Distance and Online Learning, said the current batch was the first admitted under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and that the new academic framework had caused confusion among students.

He said Business Statistics, a subject in which many MMS students failed, was considered particularly challenging, adding that the university had organised offline classes, though many students reportedly did not attend them.

Explaining the new evaluation pattern for Arts students, Sargar said the NEP now follows a pass-or-fail system after each semester. Students are required to earn 32 credits across two semesters to complete the first year, with any remaining credits to be cleared in the following semester.

He also noted that while some textbooks were printed late during the initial implementation of the NEP, digital versions had been made available online.

Despite the university's clarification, many students remain dissatisfied and have demanded greater transparency regarding the grading system and academic regulations introduced under the NEP, stating that they were not adequately informed about the changes.