Universities to Hold Final Term Exams by September End After Home Ministry's Nod

Allowing universities and other academic institutions to conduct final term examinations, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday said that the tests should be held by end of September in "offline (paper and pen)/ online/ blended (online + offline) mode".

The Centre said that for those who are unable to take the exam on the given date, a special exam will be conducted by the university "as and when feasible".

In a statement, the MHA said it has sent a letter to the Union Higher Education Secretary permitting universities and institutions to conduct examinations.

"The final-term examinations are to be compulsorily conducted as per the UGC guidelines on examinations and academic calendar for the universities and as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approved by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare," the statement said.

This announcement was made after the University Grants Commission (UGC) accepted a report of the Expert Committee and approved “UGC Revised Guidelines on Examinations and Academic Calendar of the Universities in Times of Covid 19” during a meeting in the day.

As per the new guidelines “The terminal semesters examinations to be conducted by universities by the end of September 2020 in offline (pen paper) online/blended mode. The students of terminal semester/final year having backlog should compulsorily be evaluated by conducting examinations in offline, online, blended mode as per feasibility and suitability,” said the UGC statement.

“In case a student of terminal semester is unable to appear for examinations conducted by the university for whatsoever reason, he/she may be given opportunity to appear for special examinations for such courses/papers which may be conducted by the university as and when feasible, so that the student is not put to any inconvenience and disadvantage,” it further said.

This is a one-time measure and guidelines for intermediate semester remain unchanged.

The decision for the new guidelines for the terminal semester students was taken in view of the emerging situation due to Covid-19 pandemic in India, due to which “it is important to safeguard the principles of health, safety, fair and equal opportunity for students. At the same time, it is very crucial to ensure academic credibility, career opportunity and future progress of students globally,” said the notification.

Union HRD minister said the UGC revisited its earlier guidelines on university examinations in view of the safety, career progression and placements of the students and their larger interests, after consulting the Union Home Ministry.

Various examinations conducted by universities and higher education institutions in the country have been suspended since March during the coronavirus-induced lockdown which first began on March 25.

'DUTA Slams Move'

Later in the evening, the Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) expressed its disappointment over the UGC guidelines on exams, saying that they show "complete disregard for students".

In a statement, DUTA said it "is appalled at the manner in which the government has cleared the way for forcing a sham of an exam on students".

"An exam that has no sanctity and is discriminatory towards a large section of students is clearly being pushed with no other motive than to promote big business in education," it said.

"The UGC and HRD Ministry have shown a complete disregard for students with the revised guidelines," it added.

(With PTI inputs)