By Najiya O., TwoCircles.net
Cochi: Afzal-Ul-Ulama Preliminary exams began, amidst fears regarding the bleak chances of higher studies. The exam was to be conducted in the first week of April, but is now late by two months. Only those who have passed the exam can join the degree courses.
The Afzal-Ul-Ulama Preliminary is an equivalent of intermediate, completing which; students can study BA Arabic or BA Afzal-Ul-Ulama. The course is now offered only by the Calicut University.
The exams will be over only on 7th July. Announcement of results will still be late. Applications for degree courses have already been invited. By the time the results of Afzal course are out, time for applying to degree courses will have ended. So, it is feared that the students will not be able to join degree course this year.
“The detestation of the Calicut University towards Arabic is the reason for this delay in exams,” said M Muhammed Moulvi, Principal, Hidayath Arabic College, Manjeri, in Malappuram district. “The University is trying to take this course off. The Kannur and Kerala Universities have already taken off the Afzal-Ul-Ulama Preliminary course. There, any student completing +2 (12th) can study BA Afdhalul Ulema. The university is trying for the same here too.”
Last year, the exam was held in the end of May. Private colleges outcome this problem by beginning classes of BA Afzal-Ul-Ulama before the Preliminary results are published. All those who have written the Preliminary exam can attend classes. When the result is published, those who have failed will have to go out, of course.
“Same is the case with the BA Afzal-Ul-Ulama exams too,” added Muhammed Moulvi. Exams of the BA courses too are delayed till all other exams are over.
Student organizations accuse that the negligence of the University is going to cost the students a valuable year. The date of exams itself was announced because of the pressure and protest of organizations like the Muslim Students’ Federation. They demand that the students be provided necessary facilities for higher studies.
BA Afzal-Ul-Ulama is equivalent to BA Arabic course. Those who have completed the course can go for MA Arabic.