Neither the university has been able to fulfill its objectives, nor students have returned to classes. In fact, for student leaders, always on the look out for issues that will allow them to agitate and hold the administration to ransom, unit tests have come in handy, ever since they were introduced.

While students position on the issue is fairly well-known, it is teachers and principals of various colleges affiliated to South Gujarat College and University Teachers Association who don't see eye to eye on it.

Association of teachers is on record saying that its members are all for four unit tests in keeping with the University Grants Commission guidelines, while principals and various colleges managements are dead against four tests. Though teachers call their stand on the tests ``in the interest of education'', students, principals and managements find many a fault with it.

No wonder, the unit tests have met the same fate as their predecessor preliminary examinations. Students used to agitate even when the colleges were taking only one examination per session, they are still agitating when the number has gone up two fold.

Could the university have avoided introduction of four unit tests? Yes, say all students, some teachers and most principals. But teachers find the line of argument faulty. If the opposition of students was to be taken into consideration, the university will find no takers for its policies on the campus.

Given the power equation in the the Academic Council and the Syndicate, this time too the university will end up making a compromise, like it has done since introduction of unit tests. Two strikes by teachers, students agitation in support of former Vice-Chancellor Ashwin Kapadia and flood have ensured that academic schedule went haywire in every college.

Says President of South Gujarat College and University Teachers Association Suryakant Shah, it was still possible to hold one test if the university had shown some urgency and started the academic year even before the results were out. The arrangement would have allowed students to attend classes after taking provisional admission. Now attempt is being made to malign teachers and hold them responsible for the delay.

Another member of the association alleges that a group of principals is against holding of so many unit tests. Some teachers are also grumbling but their number is insignificant in comparison to those who are all for following the UGC guidelines, he adds.

But now that the major faculties have recommended to the university for reducing the number of tests from two to one in every session, teachers association can do little but to endure yet another year of ignominy when it finds there are no takers for its noble intentions.