PU still to take final call on holding exams

PU still to take final call on holding exams

Key Meeting Does Not Help, VC Told To Take The Decision

Aarti.Kapur @timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:

Panjab University (PU) is in a fix on whether to conduct exams or not as a decision eluded even after more than an hour-long meeting of top brass with the vicechancellor (VC) on Tuesday.

Student parties are vociferously demanding that exams be cancelled, when the Centre has announced that they should be held.

Sources said officials asked the VC to take the final call. They pointed out if the exams were conducted in September, admissions will take place in October and the session started by December — an unfeasible schedule. Officials said if the admissions are delayed, the university will face a financial crunch as no fee will be deposited.

The point that Punjab had already announced cancellation of exams on Saturday too cropped up in the meeting. Colleges affiliated to PU in seven districts of the state have more than two lakh students.

A PU spokesperson issued a statement that the authorities went through the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines on exams and admissions and is preparing a plan.

A joint delegation of student organisations met officials, demanding the immediate cancellation of the exams. They strongly criticised the “irresponsible” decision of the central government. They complained that if the university wants to hold online tests, how can students living in Ladakh, Kashmir, Srinagar and other regions, where there is no Internet facility, can appear. Students who come from backward and rural areas have neither a laptop nor access to a cyber cafe, they said. Secondly, they said, if PU is thinking of holding exams, students coming from other states will face many difficulties in reaching the centres.

Members of NSUI sat on a chain hunger strike at Congress Bhawan, Sector 35, against the decision to conduct the final-year exams as per the UGC guidelines. Panjab University Campus Student Council vice-president Rahul Kumar said conducting exams in this scenario will not be beneficial for students.

SAY NO TO EXAMS: Members of the NSUI sit on a chain hunger strike at Congress Bhawan in Sector 35, Chandigarh, on Tuesday

NO INTERNET

Students complained that if the university wants to hold online tests, how can students living in Ladakh, Kashmir, Srinagar and other regions, where there is no Internet facility, can appear.

Poor internet in home states: PEC students can stay on campus

Chandigarh: Hostellers of Punjab Engineering College (PEC), who face problem of poor internet connectivity in their home states, can stay on the campus for the next academic session. A draft plan on the same was shared by PEC director in a meeting with the board of governing members on Tuesday. Sharing through a presentation, Dheeraj Sanghi, director, PEC, stated that a special committee, which was constituted by the senate to chalk out a plan for the next academic session, conducted a survey. Sources said there are around 70 students, who do not have access to internet facility. Sources said the institution will draft standard operating procedures (SoP) for staying in hostel and every student has to follow it. Students who will come in hostels will be qurantined in thier rooms for 14 days. One student will get one room. The details of SoPs will be chalked out soon. Another issue which was discussed in the meeting was about the recent NIRF ranking. The board of governors was informed about the recent withdrawals of job offers to students, but the institute has made alternative arrangements by holding another placement drive.