Should mother’s name be a part of all academic testimonials of a student?

Should mother’s name be a part of all academic testimonials of a student?

At the start of the year, The University Grants Commission (UGC) announced the strict rules regarding the compliance of its pre-announced directive in year 1998. It is related to inclusion of mother’s name in all of academic documents like degrees, application forms and certificates. The adviser wants to include the mother’s name along with the other details on all academic testimonials. Should mother’s name be a part of all academic testimonials of a student?

Yes

• It is the mother who gives birth to the child and therefore has every right to get her name on the academic testimonials.

• It will help the divorced mothers, separated mothers or unwed mothers from the problems of requiring the father’s name in the application form.

• A mother is not given a significant importance in society despite the fact that she equally participates in child’s development.

• Inclusion of mother’s name will eliminate the gender discrimination and will be another step towards the women empowerment.

• In today’s world women are working and equally participate in upbringing their children by contributing financially. So, there is no reason why only father’s name should be there on academic testimonials.

No

• Inclusion of the mother’s name will not help the divorcee, separated or unwed mothers as father’s name column will still be there. Give the flexibility with either option of mother’s or father’s name.

• It is the normal culture, not in India but even in the developed countries that children are known by their father’s name, and there is nothing wrong in it.

• Do you think inclusion of mother’s name in lifeless forms will lead to women empowerment? A greater participation in decision making is required, not a place in academic testimonials.

• There should be an objective for every step. What benefit will inclusion of mother’s name in academic testimonials will bring? It will just make the application form more lengthy and nothing else.

• A system works well when there is balance, and why should the roles of father and mother be disturbed, when it’s working all well.

Conclusion

All the steps that do some good or no harm are considered as wise steps. Inclusion of mother’s name in the academic testimonials is not going to do any harm to anyone in the society. It will not prove detrimental for a child. If it will do anything, it will be some form of good. When there is no harm in including the mother’s name, then certainly the step is justified.