Don’t take absenteeism in junior college lightly

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Responding to concerns about low attendance in junior colleges, the directorate of secondary and higher secondary education is set to inspect all junior colleges in the state.

Beyond the Std XII curriculum, junior college students who are preparing for entrance exams such as those for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and medical schools now face an added factor to consider. The director of secondary and higher secondary education has mandated a focused scrutiny of junior college attendance levels, with a particular emphasis on instances of significant class absences. The inspection drive has already commenced in Pune, reports state.

The matter of students prioritising coaching classes and entrance exam preparation over attending classes in Std XI and Std XII is unfortunately commonplace. While at times absenteeism is just for fun or because students think they can get away with it, many times, students and parents undervalue junior colleges, directing their focus towards coaching classes that specialise in preparing for certain entrance exams.

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It is time there are surprise checks and rules in colleges ensuring that students who do not attend 75 per cent of lectures are not promoted. There has to be a change in mindset too, where junior college lectures and teaching need to be valued. The education department too has to find out why coaching classes are taking precedence and if something can be done structurally, the system itself can be changed.

Parents must realise their children are also missing out on an overall college experience by cutting classes. This is a serious problem which needs a comprehensive solution. Let us not be content with stop-gap measures like inspections and seek remedial action and real change.