Winter class row resolved: 40-day long vacation for students of Hill colleges

Amitava Banerjee, MP, 8 Sep 2018, Darjeeling: A meeting between top brass of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA); University of North Bengal (UNB) and the Higher Education Department of the Bengal government on Saturday managed to resolved the winter holiday and semester examination timing problems that had been plaguing the Hill colleges since the introduction of the Credit Based Choice System (CBCS.) 

Hill college students anticipating scrapping of winter recesses had appealed for intervention by both the state government and the GTA. A meeting was convened by the GTA in Darjeeling regarding the same.

"In the meeting, we have resolved the problems. All the principals of the Hill colleges have agreed to the decisions adopted in the meeting," stated Dr. Subires Bhattacharya, Vice-Chancellor, University of North Bengal. Under the CBCS system, there will be two semesters with 90 days of direct teaching. 

"If long winter vacation is allowed we cannot meet the 90-day direct teaching criteria. However, we have worked out a 40-day long winter vacation for the Hill colleges," said the V-C.

The V-C announced that the first semester examinations will be held from December 1 to December 11. 

The second semester classes will ensue from December 13 to December 22. "From December 23, the winter recess will ensue in the Hill colleges. Classes will resume from February 2," stated the V-C. 

He further announced that practical examinations will henceforth be held at the home centres. 

For the benefit of Hill students, examination timings have been rescheduled too. 

"So that the students can return home after their exams in daylight in December, tests will be completed by 3:30 pm," stated the V-C. Earlier it had been decided to hold examinations till 5 pm. 

"It is a historic day as the state government has intervened for the first time in the Hills to resolve the problems of the students," stated Binoy Tamang, chairman, GTA.