UGC to univs: Exams must, mode flexible

UGC to univs: Exams must, mode flexible

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:13.07.2020

Cancellation of final year exams will not be in the interest of the students, the University Grants Commission (UGC) said, stating that it has given ample time and options to the universities to conduct the exams. The regulatory authority said its guidelines are aligned towards bringing uniformity in terms of assessment and pointed out that even the best universities across the world are conducting online examinations due to the pandemic and no one is awarding any certificates without any assessment.

The UGC guidelines of April and the revised guidelines of July changes the examination window from July to September. However, it directed all higher education institutions to conduct the terminal semester/ final year examinations either in offline, online or blended mode. The first and second year students were exempted from the exams and will be assessed based on previous semester’s performance and internal assessments.

Stating that the UGC’s expert committee issued an inclusive guideline, Rajnish Jain, secretary, UGC said: “Examinations should be conducted. The UGC issues broader guidelines and decisions of conducting exams have to be taken by the universities. In order to bring uniformity in terms of assessment it should be based on examinations and universities are given the option of conducting them in offline, online and blended mode.”

Govt to review states’ plea for nixing exams

The Centre told states that assessment for the final-year students has to be conducted in the long-term interest of students as many states and over 200 universities have already completed their terminal semester/final-year exams. While saying the Centre will examine the requests of six states for cancellation of exams due to Covid, a senior HRD official said UGC regulations are mandatory and central directions take precedence over states’ opinion.

UGC guidelines must for all higher education institutes

Jain said, “If for any reason a student cannot take the exam the guidelines have made provision for a special exam to be conducted by the university at a conducive time.”

Stating that the UGC has come to know of the announcements of some states from the media, only the Punjab government has written to it.

“We have received a letter from the Punjab government and we replied back giving a number of reasons about how the decision has been taken in the long term interest and life time credibility (of students). This decision has been taken with admissions to higher education and employment opportunities in mind and we have asked them to reconsider their decision,” said Jain.

The guidelines of the UGC are mandatory for all higher education institutions – government and private universities and deemed universities.

However, these guidelines are not applicable for the 155 institutions of National Importance.While the conduct of exams have been tagged as a move that puts students’ in harm’s way, Jain said that the government will not do anything which jeopardises lives and it has been a well-considered decision.

“Nobody is giving any certificates without assessment. The best institutions globally are opting for online and blended modes of examinations, but are not cancelling examinations...our primary concern is the teaching and we are concerned for their well-being.”

Full report on www.toi.in