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UGC likely to give universities freedom to decide exam plan, but there may be no winter break

UGC secretary Rajnish Jain said guidelines for universities and colleges will soon be issued but everything will depend on the local Covid-19 situation.

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New Delhi: Universities and colleges across the country are likely to get more freedom to decide according to their convenience when and how to conduct their pending exams and start the new session, ThePrint has learnt.

But the number of vacations in the new session (2020-21) is likely to come down, including cancellation of winter holidays in December, a source in the University Grants Commission (UGC) said.

Semester exams across universities have been pending because of the lockdown, which has also cast its shadow on the start of the new session.

The UGC will soon come up with guidelines for universities and colleges on how to go about with the new session and on the issue of holding pending exams.

UGC secretary Rajnish Jain told ThePrint the guidelines will be about giving more freedom to the universities to decide on an academic schedule and conduct exams based on the Covid-19 situation in the areas where they are located.

“Universities will be given more flexibility in terms of deciding when and how they can conduct the exams and when they can start the academic session. Everything will depend upon the locally favourable conditions in the area… whether the area has a large number of (Covid-19) infections or less infections…,” he added. 

Jain said the UGC will issue the guidelines based on the recommendations submitted by the two UGC-appointed committees last week. The recommendations were discussed by UGC members Monday.

“We have discussed the two reports submitted by the committees at length and based on the suggestions, the UGC will soon issue guidelines for universities,” he said.

The recommendations by the committees included conducting online exams wherever possible. If a university has the means, including the infrastructure, to conduct online exams, they should go ahead with it. But those without such means, should wait for the lockdown to get over and then conduct pen and paper exams, according to the recommendations.

These committees were constituted to look into the issues of academic loss and online education in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown. The issues pertained to holding of exams, online classes and the new academic session.

One of the committees is led by Haryana University Vice-Chancellor R.C. Kuhad. It was formed to look into the ways of conducting exams in universities amid the lockdown. The other committee, formed to suggest measures to improve online education, is led by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) V-C Nageshwar Rao.


Also read: Modi govt wants CBSE, NCERT, colleges to revise academic calendar due to Covid-19 lockdown


New session tentatively in August-September

The source in the UGC told ThePrint universities can start preparing for the new session once they conduct all their pending exams.

A tentative cut-off date, the source said, for starting the new session has been kept as August-September, but even that could be delayed depending upon the local Covid-19 situation.

Usually, the new session begins from July.

‘40% syllabus should be completed online’

The source said the UGC will take a decision with regard to reopening of colleges and universities not before July.

“As and when situation starts improving in an area, institutes situated there will be allowed to start opening with the permission of the local administration. However, that call will not be taken before July. We are just watching the situation until July to decide the things further,” the source said.

The commission is also likely to suggest measures to start admission for the next session.

“It has been suggested by the committee members that admission to the next session should happen through online mode. A single entrance examination for all universities has also been suggested by the committees but the commission is aware of the challenges in that,” said the source.

The source added that UGC members agreed the admission process can be held largely via online medium, but they are not sure about the single entrance exam. 

The committee headed by Nageshwar Rao has suggested that 40 per cent of the syllabus should be completed online and the process should start now so that there’s less pressure when the universities reopen.

“The committee tasked with the promotion of online education has suggested that at least 40 per cent of the syllabus should be completed online to compensate for the academic loss,” said a second source from the UGC.


Also read: New academic calendar, vacations, how to conduct college exams — latest task for Modi govt


 

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30 COMMENTS

  1. Sir, I humble request to HRD minister.
    If you take a step 40% syllabus complete in under graduate orPG student. This is not fair for all the student bcoz vital problem is moblie phone. Plz consider my point sir.

  2. Hii sir IAM from Telangana iam studied diploma and I have back logs we have to
    tell the government to promotee the all students with grading or marks thank you sir

  3. Hello Sir
    I’m from Nagaland India
    So I have receive the information about second semester and fourth semester are not going to appear their exam so they are directly promoting to next semester so I request you for those students who have backlog in second and fourth semester to be fair enough by not letting them give their backlog because it’s unfair for those students
    Please grant my request Sir

  4. hello Jain sir I m student of HIMACHAL PRADESH TECH. UNIVERSITY.I request to UGC to pass all the students bcoz the social distance will not maintain during exams…..
    Many people enfected by covid 19 and our parents don’t want to take such kind of risk.
    otherwise take the responsibility with insurance of every student which will giving exams .
    Thank you.

  5. hello Jain sir I m student of HIMACHAL PRADESH TECH. UNIVERSITY.I request to UGC to pass all the students bcoz the social distance will not maintain during exams…..
    Many people enfected by covid 19 and our parents don’t want to take such kind of risk.
    otherwise take the responsibility with insurance of every student which will giving exams .
    Thank you.

  6. सर मै एस एम जे एन पीजी कॉलेज हरिद्वार का BAVI सेम० का ६ात्र हूं मुझे आप से यह पूछना था कि क्या हमारे BAVI सेम० की परीक्षा ऑनलाइन होगी की ऑफलाइन?

  7. Sir I am a Final year Student Currently I am doing Polytechnic (CSE) from Vidya knowledge park, Meerut (BTEUP) Board.

    I want to know about final year Exam will be conduct or not.

    As we all know Covid-19 is Spreading all over the World and because of this lots of colleges are not prepared for that, so they not prepared online classes for Students.

    Kindly request to you please do not conduct exam and Please Pass all Final year Students.

  8. pass the students on the basis of their internal exams . for ex calculate the total marks from 1 sem to till going on sem and institutions they have the records of internal exam so they have a option for the exam . by this they can also make decision on passing marks for the students. university and students both save the time and health both and .In july start the new session online . And if everything is good then open the university /institutions.

  9. Can the UGC please take into consideration that there are some final year students who are thinking of studying abroad. These students need their final semester grades to apply for their visas. Conducting exams in July is too late. Please try to finish off exams in May. Some of us have to be there in our respective International country by August.

  10. Requesting UGC to promote the students based on their internal marks because so many students doesn’t have android phones in remote areas….So requesting UGC to promote 2nd semester and 4th semester regarding their internal marks..If the exams are held with pen and paper there is a lot of chances of COVID-19 spreading…And there is gap of. 3 months and incase of online exams each and every student must get opportunity to attend the exam….and the issuing of hall ticket should not be based on Attendance…There are so many problems so requesting UGC to direct promotion of Degrees students..

  11. UGC should promote all the undergraduate students as they are worried about the syllabus being not completed, when they will going to start next academic year, as well as delaying the exams. July is too far to conduct exams.

  12. How does opening an university by looking at its “local”covid cases going to help? A university have students coming from all over the country. This is ultimately going to worsen the “local” condition and put lives in danger.

  13. Examination should be conducted any month but make sure, it’s should be as usual not online coz we know all students belong from remote area….

  14. STUDENTS FROM MAHARASHTRA ARE REQUESTED TO PLEASE COME LIVE ON YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK TO DISCUSS STUDENTS VIEW ON PROPOSAL SUBMITTED BY MAHARASHTRA STUDENTS UNION TO UGC AND VC COMMITTEE REGARDING EXAMINATION ..

    DATE- 30/04/2020 रोजी
    “ऑनलाईन विद्यार्थी संवाद”

    For more details contact : 8087711564

    Facebook Live -@masu2019
    Time- Noon-12:30 pm

    Youtube Live- YD BABA KE BOL
    Time- Evening -5:00 pm

  15. Humble request to UGC to take a wise decision, when deciding about examination strategy keeping in mind the security of students,. Assessment can be done on the bases of assignments. So that the pending semesters can be safely winded. The next semester can be started on time, either on line or regular depending upon situation. This will also help the outgoing students, students of final semester to take decision on whatever next they plan, to move ahead timely. The authorities concerned should now take decision, as students are confused and unoriented. If authorities find assignment strategy as a solution, keeping in mind the crises situation. Then assignments should should be given without wasting any time, so that students can start working on them, and submit either online or by hand, which ever way safe and convenient. So that assessment can be done timely.

  16. All students do not have the facility of Internet and laptops. It is very difficult to give exam on mobilephone. Two semesters should not be combined because studies are suffering due to corona virus. It is impossible to complete thw whole syllabus online.

  17. Sir plz promote student of 2nd year to increase 10 percent marks And promote 1st year student and conduct their exams in September and October and take the exams of 3rd stude
    nts otherwise if late I will not give any exam sorry sir if u are hurt I am irritated to see the news on YouTube news and others news please clear it

  18. I think online exams may cause a big problem to many students as all are not having the necessary facilities so it’s highly impossible task. UGC must take a decision on the seeing the current situation of covid19 in india. They should mostly think about promoting the students based on previous performance and cancel the exams.

  19. Sir in online classes we are not present properly. Because rightnow i am living in my hometown. Here network issues are there we were not able to connect zoom app. Sir 2nd issues are that sir pls dont conduct 2 nd sem in december. You can take online exam or you can promote to another semester because burden takes places in december sir pls fix this issues

  20. Sir in online classes we are not present properly. Because rightnow i am living in my hometown. Here network issues are there we were not able to connect zoom app. Sir 2nd issues are that sir pls dont conduct 2 nd sem in december. You can take online exam or you can promote to another semester because burden takes places in december sir pls fix this issues☺

  21. Good attendence does not mean you are good academic student.Don’t give mark on basis of attendence.July is not too far to conduct offline exam.May be a little late but convenient for all types of students.

  22. I want to say that this time the semester marks should be given on the basis of attendance because it’s impossible for the students for giving the semester exams due to the pandemic situation of COVID-19 .The students can also give online exams but in case of giving online we can see that half of the students do not have networking sites and in case of taking exam in online and students will take how many package of internet.This is my first point.Secondly,If the two semesters have been combined,it will be impossible for the students to give exams as because students can’t take so much in their head. In this way they will not pass the exam,and they will get a backlog in any one subject.So I request UGC to give the marks on the basis of attendance.

  23. if you give chance to university they will definitely arrange EXAM since most of university working for money only they don’t care about students features and only for this reason…they can cross any limit…

    they are right now focusing on fees and new batch but no interesting for COVID19 Situation….they don’t think how people can able to pay in such a difficult time…right now people co-operating government by home-quarantine and losing they daily income…so in such cases schools/university also need to co-operate with there students…because without this students you guys are nothing like a without engine car…….then you and yours faculties will need to join totally home-quarantine because no Student=no income====Game over

    For Fees calling like a agent of some XYZ Loan Company……such school/college need to shut down greedy peoples…don’t think you are smart because poor parents not took any loan from your institutes..so just wait until situations gets normal they will pay yours single penny on yours face

    Regards,
    Anymouse

  24. 1- UGC should issue an circular that minimum attendence will not be required to appear in the examination. Students will be free to attend or not to attend the classes.
    2- No marks or grade will be given to the attendance in the classes.
    3- Every students should secure minimum 40% marks in every paper, means, a students will have to secure minimum 40% marks in every paper internal/external/practicals/unit tests/semester/ mid-semester/ annual etc. This will ous the non- serious students out of the instructions.
    4- 2 yeas extra should be given to complete a programme. For example a student must complete the 3 year degree programme, in 5 years maximum, failing which his all the papers will be cancelled.
    5- No fee concession, no subsidies education, no scholarship should be given, if a student fail even in one course.
    6-The government should prepare a national register of the students who are involved in indisplned, disruptive and criminal activities.
    7- It should be made mandatory to catch and report at least one case of unfair means and cheating by a student in exams and evaluation in every semester to get the future promotions.

  25. Mad UGC, they are not think about all students facilities for online classes. Am from poor family,how can I attend the class?

  26. UGC should promote all the undergraduate students as they are worried about the syllabus being not completed, when they will going to start next academic year, as well as delaying the exams. July is too far to conduct exams.

    • Humble request to UGC to take a wise decision, when deciding about examination strategy keeping in mind the security of students,. Assessment can be done on the bases of assignments. So that the pending semesters can be safely winded. The next semester can be started on time, either on line or regular depending upon situation. This will also help the outgoing students, students of final semester to take decision on whatever next they plan, to move ahead timely. The authorities concerned should now take decision, as students are confused and in dilemma. If authorities find assignment strategy as a solution, keeping in mind the crises in the present situation then assignments should be given without wasting any time.This will help the students to start working on assignments and submit either online or by hand in time by , which ever way safe and convenient. July would be too far away

      Thanks and Regards

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