Kohima: Over a thousand Nagaland University students face an academic year of delay. Results from the 6th semester Four-Year Undergraduate Programme, declared July 13, show massive failure rates. Students suspect grading errors. The trouble centers on the History department, specifically the Political History of the Nagas paper. Students call it an easy subject. They doubt the high failure rate is random.
One student pointed to the data. "Most of the students from the History department from overall Nagaland... got a backlog in this one paper. This is not a mere coincidence," he said. Five students, who requested anonymity, briefed the press on July 25 at the Dimapur Naga Students Union office. They demanded university action before the July 31 re-evaluation deadline.
Current university rules block re-evaluation for anyone scoring below 15 out of 75 marks. This leaves those with single-digit scores no recourse but to file an RTI application. One student noted they earned 21 out of 25 in internal assessments but failed the external exam with single-digit marks. The Dimapur Naga Students Union and the All Nagaland College Students Union both called for a review. A backlog in the 6th semester prevents students from moving to the seventh and eighth semesters. This adds an entire year to their degrees.
Costs add to the frustration. Colleges charge between Rs 450 and Rs 900 for re-evaluation. The university does not refund these fees even if the grade changes. Students recalled a similar failure pattern in the 2nd semester Political Science paper. Many of those students earned A or A+ grades after they demanded a re-evaluation. DNSU Education Secretary Kevin Gonmei slammed the administration for repeating these errors since the 2023 rollout of the programme. "If the concerned authorities and leaders, those who are heads, if they cannot take responsibility, they shouldn't be the head," Gonmei said. The union warned of democratic agitation if the university does not act.
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