Mumbai: A recent report by Insight, IIT Bombay’s official student media body, has raised questions about the institute’s policy of sending ‘biweekly attendance records of first-year students to their parents’. The policy, implemented last year, aims to reduce stress among students and encourage attendance. However, many students feel that it infringes on their autonomy and freedom.
The report, titled “Fresher’s Attendance: In SAFE hands?” highlights the concerns of students who feel that the system is restrictive and flawed.
Students Raise Concerns Over Attendance Policy
“We’re 19 years old, and having our movements constantly monitored takes away our freedom,” said one student to the Free Press Journal who wished to remain anonymous.
“Sometimes the notifications are inaccurate. There have been times when I have been punctual but my parents thought I was skipping classes,” another student explained on the condition of anonymity.
The first attendance report was sent to parents on September 26 and the next one on October 16.
Another student expressed frustration saying, “They claim to encourage our autonomy and personal growth, yet they impose this system that undermines our freedom.”
The article also added that “The first consideration that arises is the students’ ownership of their time and their independence in making their own decisions during their first year. When students come to college, they expect a certain sense of freedom, which in fact is an important part of their overall development. The attendance records being sent to parents may curb this freedom to some extent.”
‘Insight’ Report Exposes Policy’s Shortcomings
The report pointed out the shortcomings of the attendance policy, noting that while attendance records are sent to parents regularly, there is no clear procedure in place for the administration to intervene when a student’s attendance falls below a certain threshold.
According to Kishore Chatterjee, co-convenor of the Academic Stress Mitigation Committee (ASMC), who was quoted in the article, said, “Missing classes may be an early sign that a student may be struggling to integrate into the IIT system.”
The report ultimately recommends implementing a systematic approach to identify early warning signs and provide timely support to help new students integrate into the IIT Bombay community, fostering a more supportive and inclusive academic culture.
‘Freedom and responsibility go hand in hand,’ says IIT-B Professor
On the other hand, an IIT Bombay professor argues that the system balances freedom with responsibility. “Freedom and responsibility go hand in hand. Students claiming to be mature enough at 19 or 20 should also behave responsibly,” he said.
“We understand the concerns of parents, especially those whose children travel from a completely different part of the country. Understanding the agony of our parents, we introduced this system to make parents feel secure that their children are performing.”
