Question : M.C.A. COURSE

(a) The stipulated period for completion of MCA course in IGNOU ;

(b)Whether in special circumstances of cases of students, competent authority is empowered to further extend period for completion of course by allowing them to re-appear in those unqualified papers ;

(c) If so, the details thereof ;

(d) If not, the reasons therefor ;

(e)Whether there are students who have qualified all papers except one or two papers uncleared by one mark short in aggregate ;

(f) If so, whether the Government proposes to allow such students to re- appear/awarding grace mark in related papers ;

(g) If so, the details thereof ;

(h) If not, the reasons therefor ?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT(SMT. D. PURANDESWARI)

(a) : As per the information furnished by IGNOU, the stipulated minimum period of its MCA Course is three years. However,the maximum duration of the MCA Course with pre-revised syllabus is seven years, whereas, the revised MCA Course,which was launched in January 2005, has a maximum duration of six years.

(b)to(d) : In case of both the courses, the maximum duration is further extendable by another two years on payment of pro-rata fee for those courses, which werenot successfully completed during the prescribed duration.

(e)to(h) : The rules of the University provides for grace marks to the extent of 2% in term-end examination to those students, who failed to score requisite 40% marks in individual courses, subject to the condition that they have overall scored 50% marks in aggregate, which is a requirement to successfully complete the MCA Course.