Bengaluru: A circular issued by State Pre-University Board director C Shikha has directed all the Pre-University Colleges of the state to disallow students from appearing for both I and II PUC final examination even if they fall merely one per cent short of required 75 per cent attendance.

In a letter to the principals of all the PU colleges, she has directed the principals to hold parents’ meet on regular intervals and update the parents about their children’s attendance. “This process must be taken up at the earliest to ensure that students do not face any problem at the end of the year,” she said.

As per the direction, all the principals must return the hall tickets of those students who have less than 75 pc attendance to department itself writing ‘Shortage of Attendance (SOT)’. Even if a student has one class shortage he or she must not be allowed to appear for the examination.

“According to the letter, all the colleges are directed to stop the practice of issuing hall tickets for those students having an attendance shortfall after collecting a certain amount of money in the name of fine,” said a principal who has received the letter.