THE introduction of the GPA system in universities by the Higher Education Commission is a source of headache for students at Karachi University. According to this system, students are supposed to obtain 2.2 CGPA, about 63 per cent or grade C, to get a degree.

On the one hand, the passing criterion is 50 per cent marks out of 100, which is equal to GPA 1.0 or grade D. On the other hand, the degree-issuing criterion is CGPA 2.2, i.e. 63 per cent. Most science and arts teachers hardly give more than 50 to 65 per cent marks, which makes a GPA of 1.0 to 2.4 or grade D to Grade C+.

As a result, a number of students fail to qualify and those who pass are not eligible for getting degrees because they do not score 2.2 CGPA.

In the old division system, students are passed at 40 per cent and the first division starts at 65 per cent, which is high in demand in the job market, for further education, etc.

On the other hand, 65 per cent marks in the GPA system makes it 2.4 GPA or grade C+, which is very poor.

Science and arts students suffer because of teachers’ practice of giving low marks. In the Microbiology Department, the first position-holder of two-year BS scored 2.9 CGPA (70 per cent, grade B-) in the batch of 2010, while the first position-holder of four-year BS in the same department was judged on the basis of division system.

In the Commerce Department, four-year BS students were judged on the basis of GPA.

Results are being formulated within departments of a university on the basis of two different systems. Why should students suffer on this count?

Students protest the new GPA system because of teachers’ policy of awarding low marks and difficulties they are encountering in their job hunt because of the new so-called BS programme.

Students, the public and stakeholders are unaware of the drawbacks of the two-year BS system and the conspiracies.

But the University of Karachi, its Academic Council and the Higher Education Commission are indeed aware of all the realities but even then the university offers double bachelor’s to college graduates.

This is illogical. The university should take a remedial measure by issuing two-year master’s to college graduates on a division basis to all the batches which suffered in the last four years.

Students have submitted applications with all evidences to the vice-chancellor, who is also the chairperson of the Academic Council, but no satisfactory response is given.

ZEENAT ZUBERI Karachi