Mangaluru : The academic council of Mangalore University, in its meeting on Saturday, decided to tread carefully before implementing an instruction of the Karnataka Higher Education Council to allow undergraduate students, who have failed in fifth and sixth semester examinations, to appear for supplementary examinations in the next immediate semester. It could be either odd or even semester examinations.

K. Byrappa, Vice-Chancellor, told the council that a meeting of all college principals would be called soon to know their views before taking a decision.

Presently, a student who has failed in the fifth and sixth semester examination could clear the respective papers only by appearing for the examination in the respective semesters after a year. For example, if a student fails in the fifth semester examination in October-November, 2017 he or she cannot write the examination along with the sixth semester examination in April-May, 2018. Instead he or she should appear for the fifth semester examination in October-November, 2018.

The council, in its August 20 meeting, decided to allow such students to appear for the failed subjects along with the immediate next semester examination. It is to avoid one-year waiting period. The varsity has decided to consult the principals because after it allowed the same on an experimental basis in 2015, there was delay and anomalies in the announcement of fifth semester results of both repeaters and regulars.

The Vice-Chancellor told reporters after the meeting that the Higher Education Council has only given an instruction to all universities. It is not binding on the university to abide by it compulsorily.