We studied the Factories Act today. Yes we were in a lecture on Sunday, and this gave us the idea of drafting a Students' Act of 2010 to better the learning conditions. Some of the provisions we want included in the Act are:
Objective of the Act:
To ensure the betterment of learning conditions for students as per their wishes.
Preliminary:
- Students here are defined as "any person(s) devoting at least 30% of their time to the pursuit of education as provided by institutes termed as educational by the Government.
- It is hereby to be recognised by the Act that the students, as defined above, are the major stakeholders of the educational process.
- In light of the above statement, the educational process is to be modified so as to suit the students' wishes.
- In case of any dispute regarding the conditions of education, the Court of Law shall rule in favour of the student and the decision of the Court will be final and binding on all the parties.
Provisions of the Act:
Provisions for Lecture Hours:
- The weekly lecture hours (including all breaks) should not extend 30 hours. For every planned increase in the same, the students' permission should be sought. If and only if 50% of the class agrees to the increase in the shall the lecture timings be extended.
- Not more than 5 hours of boring lectures should be scheduled in a week. Of these not more than two hours of the aforesaid boring lectures should be scheduled in a day. For deciding boring lectures, the vote of the students should be taken.
- If all the lectures are decided as being boring by the class, then the lecture hours should not extend beyond the stipulated 5 hours a week.
- At least half an hour of rest interval should be provided after every hour of a lecture. This is to ensure the students can get refreshed and "focus" on the next lecture.
- No classes are to be scheduled before 10 am and after 5 pm.
Provisions for Quizzes, Assignments etc:
- Not more than three quizzes, assignments, PPTs or any form of evaluation can be scheduled in a week.
- For every increase in the number of evaluation assignments, the students automatically get 10% of the marks allocated to that assignment.
- There should be at least a two day warning given before a surprise quiz or test or evaluation assignment.
- If the above condition is unfulfilled the aforesaid quiz, test or assignment stands moot.
Provisions for Health and Safety:
- Every institute is to maintain a stock of soft pillows in each class. If a student is found to be sleeping or nodding off in a class, the professor/ teacher/ lecturer is to hand out the same to the student and ensure his/ her comfort.
- A student is allowed at least three bathroom breaks in a class. These are to be of an unlimited period.
- Music stimulates learning and hence students are allowed walkmans, i-pods, their personal music players in any form in the class at a reasonable volume.
- Any ammendments to the above provisions can be made by the student at per his/ her wish at a short notice period of half an hour.
