Few hill takers for results

Mrinalini Sharma, TT, Siliguri, Sept. 2: North Bengal University today announced the undergraduate Part I and II results but most hill colleges could not collect and distribute mark sheets because of the strike and officials apprehend that students will not be able to apply for review if the institutions do not open soon.

Students who want a scrutiny of their papers have to apply through their colleges and the last date of applying for a review is September 16.

Today, NBU announced BA, BSc and BCom Part I and Part II (honours and general) results.

Controller of examinations Sushanta Das said only three of the 11 hill colleges collected the mark sheets today.

“Today, representatives of only three hill colleges could collect the mark sheets from us. The others were not able to come down to Siliguri because of the strike in the hills,” Das said.

All educational institutions in the hills have been closed since July 29. Schools were opened for a day on August 16 when the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha announced a relaxation. Starting today, a ghar bhitra janta (stay at home) programme is being observed.

“Authorities of hill institutes who were not able to come today have informed us that they will make arrangements to collect the mark sheets in a day or two. Till then, the mark sheets will remain in our custody at NBU,” Das said.

St. Joseph’s College, Darjeeling, Salesian College, Sonada, and Kurseong College collected the results today but the college officials said they would distribute the mark sheets only after the institutions reopened.

Das said around 20,000 of the 1,12,277 students who had appeared for Part I and Part II exams this year were from the hills.

Although the results can be viewed online, college authorities apprehend that students would not be able to apply for reassessment if the institutions remain closed for a long time.

“The last date is September 16. The colleges should reopen soon so that students don’t suffer. We were hoping that there would be an announcement to reopen the educational institutions but that did not happen,” said George Thadathil, principal of Salesian College, Sonanda.

The Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee had said that educational institutions would be kept out of the strike’s purview but a date for reopening the schools and colleges is yet to be announced.