Earlier this week students at IBA were presented with new guidelines for attendance. The rules have been especially created in light of the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic. Though most of the guidelines were expected and accepted as necessary, one particular rule about attendance was met with criticism from all students.
Background
“If a student contracts Covid-19, he/she will not be given any leeway in attendance. Absences allowed for a course as per policy will remain in force and no exception on medical grounds will be given. Use your absences wisely, be cautious in late comings and skipping classes.”
IBA has already reduced the allowed number of absences for a student per course from 7 to 5 per semester. The consequences of exceeding this number is usually that a student automatically fails the course. This means that a student who contracts the virus now has a limited number of days to heal if they want to continue with a course they have already committed to.
Reception
The new policy was met with severe online backlash from students of the Institute as well as third party onlookers. People commenting how the policy was foolish and borderline inhumane. Furthermore, people argued how a respectable institute such as IBA should be able to recognize the damage that this policy would have.
As a student myself, this policy sounds absurd to me. During this pandemic, people all over the world have been dealt with major curveballs in life. Some had to face unexpected financial difficulties because of the nationwide lockdowns. Others have to watch the effects of the virus up close as their loved ones suffered around them. Many young students even lost their parents to the virus.
This rule is at best, severe, and at worst, unfair. It boggles my mind that other rules like mandatory face masks and a limit on classroom capacity are outlined so meticulously (as they should be), while the response to a student actually catching the virus is so unaccommodating.
Final Thoughts
We all agree that this transition isn’t an easy one. Students, teachers, and the management are all doing the best they can in this situation. But at the end of the day, these changes should work towards the betterment of all people involved- not add to their worries.
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