Parents of IDOL students seek SMC intervention

Parents of students appearing for FYBA exams of the Institute of Distance and Open Learning (IDOL), University of Mumbai, have sought intervention of the State Minority Commission (SMC) after their request to IDOL to reallot exam centres closer home was rejected. Parents said they were left with no option but to approach SMC after the Education Minister’s Office too refused to give them an ear on Thursday. The SMC meanwhile said it will look into the complaint.

This newspaper on May 5 had reported how parents of IDOL students appearing for annual exams of the institute were complaining about having been allotted seats in colleges that were nearly 50km away from their homes. The parents had alleged that the institute’s decision to not re-allot exam centres closer to their homes was arbitrary and would deter students from appearing for exams.

In the wake of The Asian Age article, one of the parents, Naeem Shaikh, had even approached education minister Vinod Tawde’s office and Minority Affairs Minister Eknath Khadse’s office to apprise them of the problem but was turned away. “Some of the students are girls who have never gone far from home without someone accompanying them. Due to the exams, they are now expected to travel long distances which is going to be a deterrent unless some family member goes along with them. I met officials from both Mr Tawde and Mr Khadse’s office but they refused to help. I had no option but to approach the SMC,” said Mr Shaikh.