Semester exams put off to start of next academic yr

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:17.04.2020

In view of the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown, the Tamil Nadu higher education department on Thursday postponed all semester exams in deemed universities, engineering, arts and science, polytechnic and other colleges to the start of the next academic year. The state has said the reopening of colleges will be announced later.

Usually, the new academic year for colleges begins in June, but due to the ongoing crisis, it is unclear when the academic year would start.

“Now, most educational institutions and hostels have been identified as quarantine centres, in case of an emergency or any other contingencies. In view of the above, you are requested to conduct the semester examinations at the beginning of next academic year,” higher education secretary Apoorva said in a letter to all registrars of state universities and deemed universities.

She further suggested that colleges reschedule semester examinations so they are held without breaks between papers and if necessary to conduct examinations in two sessions in the morning and afternoon.

“Necessary arrangements have to be made to publish final year results at the earliest,” the letter said.

Institutions were also instructed to ask their students to prepare for the exams during this period.

“This direction puts to rest of all ambiguity and confusion surrounding semester exams,” said Thomas Amirtham, principal of Loyola College, adding that PG admissions to central institutions like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) should also be postponed or they should take five semester results keeping final year students in mind.

Career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi praised the move, pointing out that colleges couldn’t conduct exams without restoration of public transport. “Colleges should give top priority to conduct exams for final year students and publish results in a short time so their job prospects and higher education opportunities are not affected,” he said.

The higher education secretary suggested that colleges reschedule semester examinations so they are held without breaks between papers