States Vs Centre Over Exam Guidelines Amid COVID-19 Crisis

States Vs Centre Over Exam Guidelines Amid COVID-19 Crisis

The revised UGC guidelines which say that universities must conduct exams for terminal semesters or year by September 30 has caused problem for several states which had already announced cancellation of degree exams.

Edited by Anisha Kumari 

Updated: Jul 11, 2020 9:20 pm IST

UGC's revised guidelines on terminal year exams have put several states in a fix

New Delhi: Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' , on July 11, said that University exams are essential to reflect students' potential, performance and their reliability which is essential for acceptance in global programmes. "Keeping in view the educational interests of a large number of students, the UGC has issued a guideline to conduct all the examinations of the terminal semester by September 30, 2020," he said.

However, the revised UGC guidelines which say that universities must conduct exams for terminal semesters or year by September 30 has caused problem for several states which had already announced cancellation of degree exams.

Delhi Cancels Exams In State Universities

Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia, on June 11, announced that degree examinations in all state-run universities stand cancelled. This, however, did not bring relief to students of Delhi University which is a central university.

Addressing the concerns about students' safety, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention in the matter.

"UGC and MHRD have refused to overturn their decision on the university exams. It seems that your intervention may resolve the issue. I humbly request you to review the centre and UGC's decision in the best interest of students and cancel the final semester exams, so that student's future could be saved," he wrote.

West Bengal Objects To UGC's Guidelines

West Bengal government has also objected to the UGC's guidelines. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also written a letter to Prime Minister Modi asking him to restore UGC's previous guideline which was advisory in nature and based on which the state government had cancelled exams in state-run universities.

The vice-chancellors of state-run universities have also decided to write to the University Grants Commission (UGC), stating the reasons for not following the July 6 guidelines that mandated final semester examinations by September 30.

Punjab CM Writes To Prime Minister Modi To Cancel Exams

Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, has also written to Prime Minister Modi seeking his intervention. "UGC may be asked to reiterate its earlier issued guidelines of 29th April 2020 wherein it had been clearly mentioned that the guidelines were advisory in nature and each State/University would chart out its own plan of action taking into consideration the issues pertaining to Covid-19 pandemic," he wrote.

Tamil Nadu CM Says UGC Guidelines 'Not Feasible'

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said that conducting examinations is "not feasible" as most educational institutions have been turned into quarantine centres for COVID-19 patients. He added that it will be difficult for students to commute to the exam centre as most of them belong to other states or abroad.

Odisha Writes To MHRD To Review UGC Guidelines

Odisha Government has written a letter to Education Ministry regarding the revised UGC guidelines on University exams. The Directorate of Higher Education (DHE), Odisha tweeted that the state government has requested to be allowed to adhere to its decision of cancelling the University exams.

"State Government has today sent a letter to MHRD requesting to reconsider the revised guidelines of UGC and not to make conduct of UG & PG final term exams mandatory. MHRD has been requested to allow the State Government to adhere to its decision of cancellation of these exams," DHE Odisha tweeted from its social media handle.

Rajasthan To Consult Universities On Conducting Exams

Rajasthan Government had announced its decision to cancel university exams for terminal semesters on July 4. It has now said that it will consult state universities and then take a decision on conducting exams.

Maharashtra Objects To 'Mandatory' Exams

Maharashtra government had cancelled terminal semester exams for all professional and non-professional courses. Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant said that the revised UGC guidelines on exam and academic calendar should be "advisory" not "mandatory".

Some States Gear Up For University Exams

Himachal Pradesh has decided to hold final year or sixth semester examinations for degree courses in August. Karnataka has also notified that the final semester exams would be held before the end of September 30. In Kerala, university exams are being held as per the timeline suggested by UGC in its April guidelines.

Pharmacies say ‘no’ to fever medicines

Pharmacies say ‘no’ to fever medicines

12/07/2020

Residents across the city complain that the rule necessitating a doctor’s prescription for getting medicines for cold, cough or fever from pharmacies has affected those who have an urgent need for these medicines.

D. Murugesan, president of Madurai Mavatta Marunthu Vanigargal Sangam, said based on instructions from the government, all pharmacies have displayed boards for the past three months stating that doctor’s prescription was necessary for getting medicines for cold, cough or fever. “This is to ensure that people do not self-medicate in case they are infected with COVID-19 virus,” he said.

M. Mariam Begam, a resident of Mahaboopalayam, said she endured an ordeal recently when she had a cold, sore throat and wanted to get medicines from a pharmacy. “All pharmacies refused to give the medicines and asked me to get tested for COVID-19. But results indicated that I tested negative for COVID-19 and was suffering from mild typhoid,” she said.

Ms. Begam added that if she had the medicines earlier, she would have recovered quicker. “Getting tested for COVID-19 is not an easy task. It would be better if pharmacies give medicines for those who are in urgent need after they collect personal details including the house address of customers. This will help field workers to follow upon the customers personally,” she said. C. Anand Raj, a health rights activist, said that intense door-to-door screening of residents through mobile fever camps will be helpful. “Compared to urban areas, there are very few PHCs in rural areas. So, medical staff can screen them and accordingly give them medications,” he added.

A senior official from the State Drug Control Department said it was a complicated situation and need for prescription was essential to combat COVID-19 pandemic. “We will emphasise that pharmacies can give medicines with prescriptions after they collect personal details of the customers,” the official added.

Let States decide on semester exams’

Let States decide on semester exams’

12/07/2020

Testing times: The move will go a long way in rendering justice and fairness to parents and students, the CM said.

B_JOTHI RAMALINGAM

“This would go a long way in rendering justice and fairness to parents and students during these distressful times,” he said.

Mr. Palaniswami made it clear that the States would not be in a position to conduct examinations even after waiting till September 2020, since most of the government and private arts and science and engineering colleges, polytechnics and other institutions of higher learning (including their hostels, classrooms etc.) in the State had been converted into COVID Care Centres for housing asymptomatic patients under quarantine, and may continue to remain that way for quite some time.

The Chief Minister said the new guidelines mandating the State governments to conduct the examinations in September entailed many constraints and difficulties, especially with regard to the ability of students to reach the examination centres, as many of them were residing outside their respective districts, States or even the country.

“It is also not feasible to conduct online examinations, considering the various issues relating to digital access among students,” he said

UGC to take action if States cancel exams: Govt.

UGC to take action if States cancel exams: Govt.

12/07/2020

As Delhi became the latest State to cancel final year university examinations in defiance of University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, both the Centre and the regulatory agency reiterated that guidelines were legally binding on the States and must be followed.

“As per the UGC Act, State governments cannot take this decision. Unlike school education, which is on the State list, higher education is on the concurrent list. UGC and AICTE [All India Council for Technical Education] directives have to be implemented. It is there in the Act,” Higher Education Secretary Amit Khare told The Hindu. “It is not permissible for States to do like this. UGC does have the power to take action. First we will try to take States on board.”

On Monday, the UGC had directed that final year examinations must be conducted by September-end in online or offline mode.

‘UGC guidelines on examinations binding on states’

‘UGC guidelines on examinations binding on states’ 

At least four states — West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra and Punjab — have objected to the UGC’s guidelines since and expressed their inability to comply. 

Written by Ritika Chopra | New Delhi | Published: July 11, 2020 5:08:37 am 

On Friday, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi joined the chorus of protest and said “exams should be cancelled and students promoted on the basis of past performance”. 

The UGC guidelines on final year examinations are binding in nature, a senior official of the HRD Ministry told The Indian Express, even as four states have written to the Union government in protest. 

On July 6, the higher education regulator advised all institutions to hold examinations for terminal semester or final year by September-end. 

At least four states — West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra and Punjab — have objected to the UGC’s guidelines since and expressed their inability to comply. On Friday, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi joined the chorus of protest and said “exams should be cancelled and students promoted on the basis of past performance”. 

The Union government, however, is unlikely to withdraw the exam-related guidelines. In fact, the UGC will insist these are adopted by all universities and colleges. 

“Without examination, the degrees will not hold any value and will affect the employability of this batch. Should we adopt a populist approach and promote everyone en masse or keep the future of these students in mind?” the senior HRD Ministry official said. 

The official added that the state governments cannot decide the fate of the examinations since the UGC is empowered by law to issue guidelines on the conduct of examinations. 

“Section 12 of the UGC Act 1956 clearly states that the UGC can take all such steps as it may think fit for the promotion and coordination of University education and for the determination and maintenance of standards of teaching, examination and research in Universities,” a UGC official said. And under the 2003 UGC Regulation on grant of first degree, universities have to adopt exam-related guidelines issued by the commission from time to time, the official added. 

The commission and the HRD Ministry haven’t replied to the letters written by the state governments yet. 

Asked how universities will conduct exams if their buildings are being used for quarantine, the UGC official said, “Universities have time till September to conduct exams and they have the autonomy to decide how they want to do it. And not all educational institutions are being used for quarantine.” 

On Friday, the Congress launched a social media campaign with several top leaders putting out video messages slamming the UGC and asking it to reconsider its decision. 

In his message, Rahul said, “Covid has harmed a lot of people. Our students in schools, colleges and universities had to face many hardships. The IITs and colleges have promoted students after cancelling the examinations. The UGC is creating confusion. The UGC should also cancel the examinations and promote students based on their past performance.”

Interns at private medical college stage protest

Interns at private medical college stage protest

We were asked to report for COVID duty at short notice, they allege

11/07/2020

Interns of a city-based private medical college staged a protest on their campus on Friday after some of them were posted for COVID-19 duty without any briefing.

Some of the interns of M.S. Ramaiah Medical College told The Hindu that they were asked to report at short notice and not given any instructions. Many of them who are already working in fever clinics said they were not given adequate precautionary measures.

List of demands

After completing their duty on Friday, they gathered at the medical college, staged a protest and said they had a long list of demands but they first wanted the management to come out with a protocol on how they would be tested if they fall sick. They want the management to spell out the approach of how they would be quarantined, if they would be provided attendance and stipend.

The Hindu had reported on Friday that many interns across different private colleges in Karnataka had alleged that they have been asked to make their own arrangements for accommodation, pay for their treatment if tested positive for COVID-19, and also pay for their COVID-19 tests if they have to be tested more than once.

‘No assurance’

Following talks with the college management, the students said they did not get an assurance. The management authorities were unavailable for comment.

Exams only for final semester UG, PG

Exams only for final semester UG, PG

11/07/2020

The Karnataka government has decided to conduct the final semester examinations for undergraduate and postgraduate students in September. However, students from intermediate semesters will be promoted based on a comprehensive evaluation parameter, and will not have to sit for any examination. Individual universities will have to take a call on the examination schedule. This is not applicable for students pursuing courses in deemed universities.