Pune: As many as one lakh students and professionals hoping to complete their degree courses , which they had previously left midway, are unable to fill up examination forms because their permanent registration number (PRN) with the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) is locked. Some of these scholars are engineering students, who have passed their first, second, and third years earlier — but while colleges have even admitted them to the fourth year, many are unable to complete the process now, which they fear could now lead to academic setbacks. On Friday, several students from Pune, Nashik, and Ahmednagar-based colleges affiliated to SPPU gathered at the exam department to request unlocking of PRNs .
They said the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 also has a provision for an ‘anytime entry and exit’ rule for degree courses. They added that a similar provision was made last year by SPPU for 1.28 lakh students, after special permission was taken from the University Grants Commission (UGC).
Following the airing of these concerns, the varsity administration said that they await a final nod from UGC to give the students a chance, after which the latter and colleges will be notified. One of the candidates, Tejas Shelke, told TOI, “As per UGC stipulations, students are required to pass degree exams within a predetermined timeframe. However, the university or colleges neglected to apprise us of this crucial information.
Now, many have completed just their first and second.