Failed, DSE students seek Vice-President's help to remove teacher

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Students of the prestigious Delhi School of Economics (DSE) have written to Vice-President Hamid Ansari, seeking his intervention after a number of them failed a course conducted allegedly by a teacher who is only two years their senior.

The students are pursuing a Master’s degree in human resource and organisational development under the department of commerce. Ansari is the chancellor of the Delhi University. The DSE has four departments: economics, sociology, geography and commerce.

According to the letter, the teacher in question, who completed MCom in 2012, does not have adequate qualification to teach. The students alleged the teacher failed them after they questioned her appointment. The students, many of whom are already placed, say their future plans have gone for a toss, after they failed in the organisational psychology exam.

“Of course, it is a matter of concern and I had called a meeting of the students, teacher and the course coordinator to take a decision on helping the students,” J P Sharma, dean of the department of commerce told Business Standard. The teacher was selected through a rigorous process and she was a good faculty member, he added.

“But as far as evaluation of the papers go, there is nothing much we can do. The Supreme Court does not allow revaluation of marks. They can re-take the exam in May and the paper is likely to be evaluated by a distant faculty,” the dean pointed out.

The letter said 27 of 64 students (42 per cent) had failed the exams. The question paper was not so difficult that 27 students should fail, it stressed.

“The teacher admitted she has never studied the subject and was reluctant to take up this responsibility”, the letter said.

According to the dean, the teacher was a former topper from the college and part of the ad hoc faculty. Also, that students have every right to approach higher authorities.

“They have every right to be concerned  about, but we do not believe that she has ever threatened the students with repercussions.”