UGC New Guidelines: On 6th July 2020, University Grants Commission (UGC) released new guidelines, instructing universities and all affiliated colleges to conduct the final year or semester examinations by September-end. The statement was given by the Union Minister of Human Resource and Development, yesterday. In the light of coronavirus breakdown in the country, the end semester exams were postponed.
But according to the new UGC Guidelines released, “The terminal or final semester examination will be conducted by the universities by the end of September 2020 in offline (pen and paper) or online or hybrid (online + offline) mode”.
These new guidelines have created confusion among students, where several states including Maharashtra have announced that they will not be holding the final year exams, due to the rise in coronavirus cases.
The new guidelines have also suggested holding special exams for students, in case a student of a terminal semester or final year is unable to appear in the examination. These special exams will be held whenever the situation will be conductive. This means that the final year exam will definitely be conducted.
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UGC New Guidelines:
1) Mode of Terminal Semester/ Final Year Examinations (2019-20)
The universities are required to complete the examinations by the end of September 2020 in offline (pen & paper)/ online/ blended (online + offline) mode following the prescribed protocols/ guidelines related to COVID-19 pandemic.
2) Provision of Examination through Special Chance
In case a student of the terminal semester/ final year is unable to appear in the examination conducted by the University for whatsoever the reason(s) may be, he/she may be given the opportunity to appear in special examinations for such course(s)/ paper(s), which may be conducted by the university as and when feasible so that the student is not put to any inconvenience/ disadvantage. The above provision shall be applicable only for the current academic session 2019-20 as a one-time measure.
3) Backlog of Papers in Respect of Terminal Semester(s)/ Final Year Students
The UGC has revisited its earlier guidelines related to university examinations.
— Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) July 6, 2020
In view of the safety, career progression and placements of the students and their larger interests, after consulting @HMOIndia and @MoHFW_INDIA, it has been decided that pic.twitter.com/evKTYPwnIa
Angry over this decision, students took to social media platforms to flag their concerns. #StudentsLivesMatter have been trending over micro-blogging platform, Twitter.
Since March, students from across the country are filing petitions on change.org, asking the government to cancel the final exams. According to change.org data, 22,000+ petitions have been filed from March until now – requesting for cancellation of examination for final year students.
Read | New Academic Calendar Announced, AICTE – Know when is your college likely to re-open?
“you just delayed our placements sir. and it was the so called decision which took this much time. further making us jobless. adding fuel to economic recession and unemployement.”, wrote Rex Mathew, a Twitter user.
you just delayed our placements sir. and it was the so called decision which took this much time. further making us jobless. adding fuel to economic recession and unemployement.
— Rex Mathew (@RexMathew3) July 6, 2020
This decision will lead to mindless extended uncertainty for no discernable benefit. If IIT Bombay can cancel final year exams and extrapolate from previous assessments, why can’t other univs? Education much more than exams and this narrow-minded view will endanger student health
— Ruchi Gupta (@guptar) July 6, 2020
Then,
— Narendra Choudhary✳️ (@Narendr12361440) July 7, 2020
1st Time :- Exams are cancelled
2nd Time :- Exams will be conducted on mid of July
3rd Time :- No Exams are cancelled
.
.
.
Now,
Exams will be taken In the end of September#Cancel_Exam2020 #UGCGuidelines #Exams2020#Cancel_Exam2020
#StudentsLivesMatters
— Sonali Gupta (@sonali_gupta03) July 7, 2020
According to govt, exams are compulsory”more than life” is hidden in this statement!
One side they say STAY HOME STAY SAFE
and on the other side they are ordering students to step out of their homes and go in the arms of death
What are they trying to prove pic.twitter.com/GY93E6rxKH
The guidelines were issued after a discussion with the experts committee. The committee was asked to revisit guidelines for examinations and prepare a new academic calendar, by the Minister of Human Resource Development (HRD) Ramesh Pokhroyal Nishank. This was done to have uniform rules across varsities as the number of COVID cases are still rising and likely to increase further.
Earlier, the HRD Minister have postponed the JEE and NEET 2020 examinations amid COVID-19 outbreak. “Keeping in mind the safety of students and to ensure quality education, we have decided to postpone JEE and NEET examinations,” Pokhriyal said.
Also, today, 7th July 2020, the HRD Minister announced that CBSE will reduce syllabus of Classes 9 to 12 up to 30% amid the coronavirus pandemic. He added that the ministry received 1500+ suggestions from educationalists to aid the decision.