Colleges Welcome the Change

The decision has received support from principals and faculty members at several colleges affiliated with Calcutta University. College authorities say student attendance declined after attendance-based marks were removed from the assessment system.

Under the previous arrangement, students could earn 10 marks based on their attendance. That provision was discontinued following the introduction of the Curriculum and Credit Framework (CCF) in 2023.

Indrila Guha, principal of Basanti Devi College, said the return of attendance marks could help address the practical problem of low classroom participation. She noted that although attendance should ideally be driven by academic interest, an assessment incentive may encourage more students to attend.

Bankim Sardar College principal Tilak Chatterjee similarly expects attendance to improve once students receive marks for attending classes. He recalled that the college had introduced an attendance scholarship in 2017, which was followed by improved attendance. According to him, attendance declined after the initiative was discontinued.

75% Attendance Requirement Remains

Asutosh College principal Manas Kabi said his institution has continued to follow the university's requirement that students maintain at least 75% attendance to be eligible to appear for examinations.

The college continued enforcing the attendance requirement even after attendance marks were removed in 2023. College authorities believe that restoring attendance marks could provide an additional incentive for students who have been less regular in attending lectures.

How the Assessment System Changed

Under the earlier Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS), undergraduate students had 10 marks allocated to attendance and another 15 marks for internal assessment.

The introduction of the CCF in 2023 brought changes to this arrangement. Attendance marks were removed, while internal assessment increasingly focused on activities such as tutorial projects and practical work.

College administrators say this change was accompanied by weaker classroom participation because students had fewer assessment-related incentives to attend regular lectures.

What the New Provision Means

With five of the 25 internal assessment marks now connected to attendance, Calcutta University is placing renewed emphasis on regular classroom participation.

The revised system does not replace the existing attendance eligibility requirement. Students will still need to meet the prescribed 75% attendance threshold to appear for examinations, according to the college authorities cited above.