BHU students protest after degrees in physical education declared ineligible for jobs

Hundreds of students from the Physical Education department at Banaras Hindu University protested loudly and incessantly in front of the Vice Chancellor's residence, demanding immediate action because their degrees were left out of the recent national recruitment drives.

Students of BPED and MPED courses picketed the residence of the Vice Chancellor early this morning, accusing the national recruitment bodies of overlooking their NCTE-approved degrees.

They said their cases had been declared ineligible for the vacancies released under NVS and EMRS examinations without fair grounds, thereby causing much anxiety relating to their career prospects.

Many students carried placards and shouted slogans demanding that the university intervene without further delay. They said despite completing two years of rigorous academic and practical training, they are being denied the opportunity to apply for teaching posts to which they are fully qualified.

STUDENTS SAY EXCLUSION THREATENS THEIR FUTURE

According to students, BHU-offered courses of BPED and MPED were not recognized in the recently-published recruitment lists. They said that it was unjustified since the programs had been approved by the National Council for Teacher Education.

They said the decision has put their future in jeopardy and demanded that the university ensure their degrees were recognized in all national-level recruitment processes.

A number of students present later described feeling "deeply disappointed" and "betrayed" because they felt their hard work was being dismissed.

VICE CHANCELLOR MEETS STUDENT DELEGATION 

As the agitation continued to swell, a delegation of students met the Vice Chancellor, who assured them that he would look into the matter urgently. He ordered concerned officials to initiate necessary steps and said two students and two teachers would be sent to Delhi to represent their cause before the Ministry. However, students said no such assurance had been given in writing so far. They said unless an official confirmation was issued and a delegation sent to Delhi for the same, they would not withdraw their protest.

 PROCTORIAL BOARD TRIES TO APPEASE PROTEST 

Officials from the Proctorial Board and faculty members reached the spot to pacify the crowd. Despite their efforts, the students maintained that they would not step back until their demands were formally acknowledged. They said rejection of their degrees at the time of job applications was not acceptable and immediate corrective action was called for.