TN Kangeyam Government College students fight for degree certificates even after three years

Some of the students of Government Arts and Science College, Kangeyam, in Tiruppur are going around like headless chickens to obtain their degree certificate even after three years because the college administration did not take necessary action to distribute them through Bharathiar University.

Students claimed that the college administration has directed them to apply for degree certificates directly to Bharathiar University, in contrast to other government colleges where the application is usually made through the college administration.

One such student, K Vijaykumar (name changed), a student of BA English of 2019-22 batch told TNIE that according to instruction by the college, he himself had approached the university directly to degree certificate. He also recollected others that students themselves didn't approach even due to indolence.

"Nevertheless, I still haven't gotten it. Last year, the administration officer at the college instructed me to call the university when I made an inquiry. When I went to the university, they told me that I have to present a letter from the college before the degree certificate procedure can continue," he fretted.

"Because of this, I did not try after that. My friends too have not been given their degree certificates," he claimed.

Another student belonging to the same batch of the Computer Science department informed TNIE that he had given Rs 600 to university when he first applied for a degree certificate.

"Yet the university failed to send the certificate by mail. I received my certificate only when I presented at the university a letter of the Head of the Department attesting my studies here. For this, I paid a penalty of Rs 400 to the university. This was not necessary," he remembered.

Speaking about this, Education Development Committee coordinator K Leninbarathi said, "Generally, private and government colleges send applications for their students to Bharathiar University and receive degree certificates for eligible students. Colleges give the degree certificates to students at the time of their convocations. This is the college's duty."

"When the administration instructs students to take their degree certificates directly, they might encounter practical problems in receiving them from university. In addition, students will lose the festive experience of getting their degree certificates at the convocation," he noted.

When contacted, a senior officer in the examination wing of Bharathiar University informed TNIE that only students of Kangeyam college apply directly for degree certificates.

"Because of this, we cannot award degree certificates to the students, and there is a practical constraint in giving them. This is not preferable. We have told the college administration to apply for the certificates for all students rather than asking the students to apply directly to the university," he added.

According to The New Indian Express reports, college principal SF Naseem Jan told TNIE that only 100 students who completed their degrees during the COVID-19 pandemic are awaiting their certificates.

"We have taken steps to issue the degrees to the students through their respective heads of departments. Starting from this academic year, we will apply directly with the university for the certificates," she said.