Undergraduate students at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) are facing considerable difficulties in getting hold of their admit cards ahead of the examinations, scheduled to commence from June 10 (Monday).
Most of the students contacted by this correspondent said that officials of the examination department, instead of realising the gravity of the situation, were doing nothing to resolve their problems, adding that they were irritated by the indifference of the examination department officials.
Sources said that despite the appointment of a new vice-chancellor, the university affairs remained unchanged, which further eroded the institution's prestige. "We will get examinations cancelled if admits cards are not released in the next 24 hours," a leader of the university's Student Action Committee said, adding that students would stage protests everywhere against the incompetence of the examination department. "The scope of the protests may be broadened if even a single student misses his or her semester examination," he warned.
Sources said that appointments on political grounds in various departments had ruined transparency. "The arts faculty's semester exams are scheduled to start from Monday, June 10, but hundreds of the students are still without admit cards, hindering them from appearing in exams," a professor in the university's International Relations Department told this correspondent.
He said that teachers were facing considerable pressure of students who were awaiting their admit cards. "We will not allow any student to appear in exams without admit card," another professor at the university said, adding that according to rules, all students were required to display his admit card before being allowed to enter examination room.
However, other teachers believed that students without admit cards would be allowed to take exams, saying the students should not be blamed of the incompetence of the university's examination department. Sources feared that allowing students without admit cards would help the cheating mafia to influence the examination process.
Disappointed by the situation, students complained that a potential postponement of exams would not only result in loss of their precious time but also disturb their focus on studies. The delay in the holding exams on schedule would also affect the schedule of MA annual examinations.