Protest Over Exams During Dussehra Holidays; Students in Mangaluru Skip Tests

Several undergraduate students from St. Agnes College in Mangaluru staged a protest outside the college on Monday and boycotted their examinations. The students state that the exam dates clash with the Dussehra festival.

Students in Mangaluru, Karnataka, have expressed opposition to the decision to conduct semester exams during the Dussehra holidays. Many undergraduate students from St. Agnes College protested outside the campus on Monday and boycotted their exams. They argue that the exam schedule coincides with the Dussehra festival, preventing them from participating in the festivities. The college administration has scheduled the semester exams from October 12 to October 28, a timeline to which the students have objected. Seeking administrative intervention, the students have approached the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada. However, there has been no announcement regarding any changes to the exam schedule so far.

Students from St. Agnes College gathered outside the main gate on Monday to protest. Their primary objection stems from the scheduling of exams during the Dussehra holidays; they state that the timing prevents them from taking part in traditional activities and celebrations in the region. They voiced their displeasure over this issue and demanded administrative intervention.

ABVP Supports the Students

The students protesting against the exam schedule received support from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). They presented their demands to the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada and appealed for a resolution. The students are demanding a review of the exam schedule that overlaps with Dussehra, as the clash forces them to choose between the festival and the examinations. So far, there has been no response from the administration regarding the students' demands.

Exams Continue Amidst Protests

While students staged protests outside the college, examinations proceeded on campus despite the ongoing agitation. Students who chose to appear for the exams entered the college and took their scheduled papers, whereas those boycotting the exams continued to protest outside. Although the police attempted to reason with the protesting students and disperse the crowd, the protest outside the college persisted. Amidst this situation, students who skipped the exams are now concerned about potential academic setbacks. It is worth noting that these semester examinations are scheduled to continue until October 28, and students are now demanding the intervention of the Deputy Commissioner.