Agricultural students boycott exams over privatisation

Students of agricultural sciences across Karnataka boycotted the semester exams as part of their 14-day protest against the government’s decision to privatise agricultural education. The second- and fourth-semester exams were to begin on Monday and go on until July 6. 

Over one thousand students from four universities of agricultural sciences (Bengaluru, Dharwad, Raichur and Shivamogga) are boycotting the exams. On rescheduling of the examination, A B Patil, registrar, UAS, Bengaluru (GKVK), said: “None of the students, including those taking supplementary exams, was present in the exam hall. The vice-chancellor will take a call on rescheduling the exams.”

Megha, a protesting student at the GKVK, said: “We will not call off our protest until the government meets our demands. The government is threatening our parents in an attempt to quell our protest.”  Ramesh, another student, said: “The university must reschedule the exams. Though the varsity made the arrangements, not a single student was present in the exam hall.”