Shri Ram College of Commerce did not have a statistics teacher for any of its 13 sections for a large part of second semester

Updated on: Wednesday, April 24, 2013

In the face of the launch of the four-year undergraduate programme that will add another 54,000 to Delhi University's existing undergraduate roll strength, a reality check. One of the most sought-after colleges in DU, Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) did not have a statistics teacher for any of its 13 sections for a large part of second semester. And section H, with about 55—60 students, will be writing the Statistics paper on May 9, 2013 with practically zero classroom teaching, therefore zero attendance and having written no assignment that can count for internal assessment marks till now.

"None of the sections had a statistics teacher for the first month. Other sections slowly started getting teachers but we got one only four days ago. We had our first class today and there will be a test on Thursday," say a first-year BCom (honours) student adding that the attendance situation "is a mystery." Their record on the SRCC website shows nil attendance. What is especially distressing to the students is that, in the semester-system, there is no opportunity to revisit the course. "It's once-and-for-all. We won't be going back to this now," they say.

P C Jain, principal, SRCC, admits that one section has seen "a little disturbance" as the "teacher has changed two-three times in the session" but denies that it was a problem for the entire class. He says that teachers go on "childcare leave" and for "refresher or orientation courses" but the college can't appoint a teacher till the previous one has been relieved. Jain says that several guest and ad hoc teachers changed over the semester.

The students say they've been complaining to the college administration for months. They say they've approached the administration several times but by February, many of them had made their own arrangements. They even requested a statistics teacher teaching a different section for help. "But our attendance records kept showing zero every month," says a student. The coursework for all other subjects has been completed. Jain adds that the teacher section H finally has will take classes till April 30 (the last working day) and the attendance — marked by different teachers during the semester — will be "consolidated" by April 30.

Shri Ram College of Commerce did not have a statistics teacher for any of its 13 sections for a large part of second semester

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