Abolish grading system in CU exams, students demand

The meeting asked deans of all faculties to give reports to the Vice-chancellor within 10 days with recommendations to solve the problem over grading system.

VC Prof AJM Nuruddin Chowdhury was in the chair. Deans of all faculties and chairmen of all departments attended the meeting, held at the VC's office.

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Talking to the Daily Star later, Pro VC Prof Dr. M Shamsuddin said, "We are trying to reach a solution so that students do not suffer".

Meanwhile, agitated students of the university announced a four-day programme. The programme includes communication with teachers on Wednesday, a signature collection campaign on Thursday and Saturday and formation of a human chain on the campus on Sunday.

Oganisers of the student agitation said that on Sunday, they may announce a tougher programme including indefinite strike on the campus if their demand is not met by that time.

When contacted, Dr. Andru Alak Dewary, assistant professor at Journalism department told this correspondent that the university authority launched the grading system in 1998-99 but most of the teachers do not understand the system properly.

"Even, there is difference among different faculties in following the system".

He admitted that life of 16,000 students is being affected because of all these.

On Monday, about five thousand students took out a procession on the campus demanding immediate cancellation of the grading system in publishing examination results.

Starting from in front of the CU Central Students Union office under the banner of General Student Action Council (GSAC), the processionists paraded the whole campus chanting various slogans and also held a rally.

Speakers at the rally threatened of boycotting classes and examinations and a tougher movement if their demand is not met by August 16.

They said, grade point 3 to 3.5 in university examinations is considered equivalent to First Class marks and grade point above 3.5 is equivalent to higher First Class marks.

But in some recent newspaper advertisements for Dhaka University's MBA programme and Islamic University's M Phil and Phd degree and for Dhaka Bank's, grade point 3.35 was considered as Second Class marks.

So, students of CU who passed from the university under the grading system could not apply for jobs as almost all of them got below grade point of 3.5.

The system was introduced in Chittagong University in 1998-99 session.

Mahmudul Quader, convenor of GSAC presided over the rally. Among others, Saiful Islam, Md. Monsur, Shewily Akhter, Nazmul Hasan, Nasir Uddin spoke.