By Kehkashan Tabbasum

Freelance Journalist

ISLAMABAD, JAN 12: The students of the German Department of the National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad Campus have sought intervention of the Rector for granting a relaxation in the attendance requirement to 70pc to them.

In an email request to the NUML Rector they have pleaded that it is a certificate course not a degree program as allowing them to take the exams would help them continue their course to B1 without setbacks, reliable sources in the German Department confided to this scribe on Saturday.

Copies of the applications which the students addressed to the Head of German Department, made available to this correspondent, state that students of the German Department studying A1+A2 Certificate courses were not allowed by the authorities concerned to appear in the final examinations due to the shortage of attendance.

Hence, the educational future of students of German Department has been put at stake by the authorities concerned for not allowing them to appear in their final examinations to prove their mettle.

The students, through applications, had twice requested to the Head of the German Department to allow them to appear in the examinations by taking a lenient view keeping in view time period and heavy tuition and transport fees paid to the university but in vain, the sources claimed.

An aggrieved student, on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that unfortunately the Head of Department neither took decision at its own nor forwarded their applications to next authority i.e. Dean, Registrar or the Director General of the university in order to save students’ precious time.

Resultantly, the sources divulged, due to the importance of the issue owing to time constraints, the students addressed their plight to the Rector, which is pending for want of a favourable decision.

Another student disclosed that a majority of the students of class A2 were facing Damocles sword like situation as the authorities concerned failed to allow the students in time to appear in the examinations.

The sources further divulged that at least three students of Section A whose actual attendance was at 66pc, 63pc and one at less than 60pc were allowed to appear in the A2 examinations whereas other students with below 70pc attendance were not allowed to appear in the A2 examinations at the pretext of short attendance.

Yet another student disclosed that many of them were full-time students, coming from diverse backgrounds would unable to get admission in B1 course unless A2 certificate was issued. Despite this, they had actively participated in the course and achieved excellent results in Mid-term Exams. The A2 certificate is essential for our progression to B1 Level, the student said.

The students have requested to the NUML Rector for granting them a relaxation in the attendance requirement to 70pc in order to examinations to help them continue their course to B1 without setbacks.