Punjab for cancellation of varsity, college exams

Punjab for cancellation of varsity, college exams

Situation not conducive for it due to COVID-19, says CM

10/07/2020

CM Amarinder Singh

Describing the COVID-19 situation in the State as non-conducive for conduct of examinations, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday said that he will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking cancellation of exams in universities and colleges.

The Chief Minister said he will seek revocation of the July 6 Ministry of Home order on compulsory conduct of final terms exams in the universities and colleges by September, and withdrawal of the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) guidelines accordingly.

COVID-19 cases in Punjab are increasing every day and are projected to peak in September, Captain Amarinder pointed out, adding that he was not ready to risk the lives of students in these circumstances.

“How can we take the risk of exposing students by bringing them together for exams at this juncture?,” asked the Chief Minister. He further said that the exams could not be held in online mode, which the UGC had suggested as an option, since a large section of the students in Punjab, especially in the rural areas and among the backward communities, do not have access to affordable and uninterrupted Internet connectivity.

‘Not feasible’

It is just not feasible to hold exams in the current situation, he stressed at a meeting of the Education Department to discuss the issue. Pointing out that seven other States had already raised their concerns on this count with the Central government, Capt. Amarinder said all Congress-ruled States had in fact decided to approach the Union government in this regard.

Notably, the Punjab government had already announced its decision to award degrees and diplomas, and promote students on the basis of performance of past

Govt. reverses its order on EWS certificates

Govt. reverses its order on EWS certificates

10/07/2020

The State government on Thursday reversed its decision of not allowing income and asset certificates to be issued to candidates of economically weaker section (EWS) in general category.

No bar on tahsildars

Hereafter, there will be no bar on tahsildars to issue such certificates but the document should state specifically that it is meant only for seeking admission to Central educational institutions or employment in Central government, according to a circular issued by Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration K. Phanindra Reddy to District Collectors.

The latest development marks restoration of the original decision of the State government in May 2019, asking Collectors to have the certificates issued to persons belonging to the EWS for the purpose of education and employment in the Central government, says a senior official.

Students in Kyrgyzstan seek govt. help to return home

Students in Kyrgyzstan seek govt. help to return home

Over 650 students have been facing issues relating to health, lodging and food

10/07/2020

Over 650 medical students from Tamil Nadu, stranded in Kyrgyzstan, have appealed to the Indian Embassy in Bishkek to help them return home.

The students, pursuing medicine at various universities there, said that they were asked to remain in their hostels in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and were facing issues with respect to their health, lodging and food over the last few months.

M. Giridharan, a first-year MBBS student hailing from Villupuram, said that the students had submitted petitions and e-mails to the Indian Embassy in Bishkek, seeking repatriation flights to be arranged to Tiruchi or Chennai. “After months of struggle, the third phase of the Vande Bharat Mission included two flights to Tamil Nadu,” he said.

A total of 324 students have reached Tamil Nadu between July 2 and 4. However, many students from central and southern Tamil Nadu, including Tiruchi, Madurai and Ramanathapuram, are still stranded, he told The Hindu.

The students circulated a spreadsheet among their contacts and found that there were as many as 641 Tamil students at various universities across cities in Kyrgyzstan. “COVID-19 cases are gradually increasing here and we are in a lockdown. We have been asked to remain in our hostel rooms, but food supplies and lodging facilities have taken a hit,” said Mr. Giridharan.

No response

While students from other States are being evacuated, the Tamil Nadu government is yet to respond to the pleas, Mr. Giridharan said. “We are not able to go out and purchase what we require on a daily basis. COVID-19 cases are increasing and there are no good medical facilities,” he said. T. Manikandan, a second-year MBBS student at Jalal-Abad State University, said that while they were trying to return home, their parents were worried sick. “We continue to tell them that we will be back soon, but even we are clueless,” he said.

Some universities, like Mr. Manikandan’s, have begun online classes. “We can attend these classes from home as well, so we request the government to arrange flights to Tiruchi, if services to Chennai are not possible,”

July 27 exam mandatory to clear Plus Two, says Minister

July 27 exam mandatory to clear Plus Two, says Minister

‘Exam centres to be allotted for 34,842 students’

10/07/2020

Class XII State Board students, who missed the last exam on March 24, must sit for it on July 27, School Education Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan said on Thursday. The government would allot examination centres for all 34,842 students who were unable to write the exam.

Speaking to journalists at Kolapalur in Gobichettipalayam, he said that only 718 students expressed their willingness to write their exam on July 27.

“But this is not a Class 10 exam to declare ‘all pass’. Only those Plus Two students who write their exam can pass,” he said.

Mr. Sengottaiyan said no online classes would be conducted for government school students, but lessons would be telecast through television channels. The schedule would be known when the Chief Minister inaugurated the classes, he said.

University notification on duty criticised

University notification on duty criticised

10/07/2020

Virudhunagar MP B. Manickam Tagore on Thursday urged the Union Minister for Human Resources, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank,’ to make Anna University withdraw its notification instructing its staff and faculties to work as usual during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a memorandum sent to the Minister, he said that Chennai has emerged as a hotspot with 70% of Tamil Nadu’s COVID-19 infection reporting from the State capital. The State government has accommodated a huge number of COVID-19 patients on Anna University premises.

Stating that several university staff had been infected with the virus, the MP said the State government has announced extension of lockdown till July 31 for all educational institutions. Under these circumstances, the Anna University had forced all staff and faculties to attend office as usual.

“It would be disastrous for their health and make them vulnerable to the infection,” he said.

He wanted the Union Minister’s intervention in the issue

Consider Class XII marks for medical admissions’

Consider Class XII marks for medical admissions’

CM has written to PM on this: Minister

10/07/2020

Tamil Nadu has urged the Central government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to not hold the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and consider the Class XII marks instead for admissions to medical courses this year, Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar said on Thursday.

“Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has written to Mr. Modi regarding the issue on July 8. In his letter, he stated that it would be difficult for students, especially those from the rural areas, to take the test in the present circumstances,” the Minister said in a statement.

He recalled the efforts being taken by the AIADMK government against the conduct of NEET for admissions to medical courses.

Referring to reports of the Centre contemplating a revision of the criteria for the creamy layer among the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), the Minister said, “Reservation should be based only on social and educational conditions. Reservation based on economic conditions would go against social justice.”

“People are aware that this government is a pioneer in protecting the ideals of social justice and the interests of the poor and the downtrodden. This government will continue to protect the welfare of the backward classes,” he said.

Mr. Vijayabaskar also referred to the petitions filed by the State government in the Supreme Court and the Madras High Court for 50% reservation for the OBCs in medical seats, which were surrendered by the State governments to the all-India quota, in non-Central government colleges.

Not our decision alone to pass students, say VCs

‘STANDING AT STAKE’

Not our decision alone to pass students, say VCs

Hemali.Chhapia@timesgroup.com  10.07.2020

The minister said the formula for backlogs was derived by a group of vice chancellors.

If the subject has an internal test, 50% of the score from it too would be added. And if a student still does not make the cut, grace marks would be given. In case of no backlog, the final semester’s internal marks will be added to the average of the previous semester scores.

However, experts said it may be tough for the 2020 batch to find jobs or acceptability in universities abroad without clearing exams—for one, regulatory bodies may not certify them, a point that’s been communicated to the government. Senior academics were taken aback by Samant’s claim that the decision was a unanimous one by vice-chancellors and directors of institutions who met on July 4, and not forced by the government.

Samant had outlined the state’s position earlier this week in a letter to Union minister for HRD Ramesh Pokhriyal, with a copy to Amit Shah. “Maharashtra is the worst affected state with more than two lakh cases confirmed cases so far,” it said as the reason for its inability to comply with UGC guidelines.

Samant showed recorded clips from a meeting held by VCs and other academicians to prove the point that they were aligned to the state’s position. However, one of them told TOI that the meeting was held before the UGC guidelines were out. “This is not right. We were asked if exams could be held in July. Also, we were given a strict mandate to draw up a formula to clear all ATKT students. Clippings shown during the press briefing make it look as if VCs took all decisions by themselves. We were forced into all this…”

About the ATKT formula, another said, “What if a student has remained absent? How many grace marks will you give? In fact, some students with backlogs may end up with a better score than the ones who have cleared all subjects without special state treatment.”

VCs feel the standing of their institutes is at stake now due to the impasse.

And when asked about professional regulating bodies like the Architecture Council and Bar Council that refuse to grant practising licences to those not examined in the final year, Samant said he had written to them and was awaiting their reply.

Working out policy for post-grad med exam, state tells HC

Working out policy for post-grad med exam, state tells HC

Rosy.Sequeira@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:  10.07.2020

The state government told the Bombay high court on Thursday that it is formulating a policy to conduct final-year exams for post graduation in medicine — the MD and MS courses.

Assistant government pleader Jyoti Chavan sought time before a bench of Justices Shahrukh Kathawalla and V G Bisht, saying it involves preparation of schedule and taking every safety measure. “Ultimately, it concerns resident doctors and the examiners who are on Covid duty,” she said. Chavan added that meetings are being held on the issue and she would inform the court on July 14.

The court was hearing a petition by Dr Nishant Gobbur seeking directions to the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences to declare the dates and conduct final-year exams for post-graduate medical students. The exams were postponed twice due to the coronovirus pandemic.

Gobbur, who hails from Akalkot in Solapur district, is pursuing an MS degree in general surgery at Seth G S Medical College, Parel. In the entrance test for DM/MCh courses conducted by Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, he stood second in all-India ranking in the general category for neurosurgery out of three coveted seats. On June 30, PGIMER issued him a provisional appointment/ admission letter and granted time to join latest by July 6. An eligibility criterion mandates that a candidate must have passed MD/MS or its equivalent qualification recognised by Medical Council of India.

Gobbur’s advocate, Vishwanath Patil, submitted that there is urgency in the matter as PGIMER has set a deadline for him to join the course.

The judges posted the matter for July14 and directed that, meanwhile, “all steps taken by respondents [MUHS and PGIMER, Chandigarh] shall be subject to orders passed by the court”.

Plan to ‘pass’ students has experts worried; not our decision, say VCs

Plan to ‘pass’ students has experts worried; not our decision, say VCs

Hemali.Chhapia@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:  10.07.2020

Maharashtra higher education minister Uday Samant has claimed that the formula evolved to clear backlogs of university students was put together by a group of vice chancellors. But a section of them told TOI that they had misgivings about it and expressed their resentment at being misrepresented by the government.

Under the proposed plan, an average of marks in all the subjects would be considered the final score in the failed subject. If the subject has an internal test, 50% from it too would be added. And if a student still does not make the cut, grace marks would be given. In case of no backlog, the final semester’s internal marks will be added to average of previous semester (first semester of 2019/20) scores.

However, experts said it may be tough for the 2020 batch to find jobs or acceptability in universities abroad without clearing exams — for one, regulatory bodies may not certify them, a point that’s been communicated to the government. Academics were taken aback by Samant’s claim that the decision was a unanimous one by vicechancellors and institutions heads who met on July 4.

Samant had outlined the state’s position earlier this week in a letter to Union minister for HRD Ramesh Pokhriyal, with a copy to Amit Shah. “Maharashtra is the worst affected state with more than two lakh cases confirmed cases so far,” it said as the reason for its inability to comply with UGC guidelines.

Samant showed recorded clips from a meeting held by VCs and other academicians to prove the point that they were aligned to the state’s position. However, one of them told TOI that the meeting was held before the UGC guidelines were out. “This is not right. We were asked if exams could be held in July. Also, we were given a strict mandate to draw up a formula to clear all ATKT students. Clippings shown during the press briefing make it look as if the VCs took all the decisions by themselves. We were forced into all this…” Former education minister Vinod Tawde said it was obvious that the government was using the vice-chancellors to further its own agenda.

About the ATKT plan, one vice-chancellor said, “There is a lot of irrationality to it. What if a student has remained absent? How many grace marks will you give? In fact, some students with backlogs may end up with a better score than those who have cleared all subjects without “special state treatment”. The state’s reluctance to conduct online exams has also raised questions. It has said it does not have the connectivity to do it across the state.

VCs feel the standing of their institutes is at stake due to the impasse. However, the Maharashtra Federation of University and College Teachers’ Union has asked the state not to budge. UGC guidelines are at variance with the grim reality in Maharashtra, it said. “We demand there should be no change in the decision,” said president Tapati Mukhopadhyay.

When asked about professional regulating bodies like the Architecture Council and Bar Council that refuse to grant practising licences to those not examined in the final year, Samant said he had written to them and was awaiting their reply.

TIMES VIEW: The state has balked at the UGC diktat on exams because of logistical issues involved in holding it for lakhs of students in the midst of a pandemic. But the decision to do away with exams entirely cannot be the answer. Careers and future academic prospects are at stake. Maharashtra’s strategy must be in line with what is acceptable to higher education centres and recruiters across India. An exemption on the grounds that it has more Covid-19 cases than other states will not wash with regulators which have to certify students. The best way will be to stagger the schedule and hold exams when possible.

HC slams DU for frequently changing stand on exams

HC slams DU for frequently changing stand on exams

Abhinav.Garg@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  10.07.2020

Delhi high court on Thursday castigated Delhi University (DU) for yet again postponing final-year examination schedule, despite giving assurances.

“We all have gone through the examination process which is nerve-wracking for the students, especially during the times of Covid-19 pandemic….Why are you pushing the exams to a date beyond August 15, knowing that careers of thousands of students are at stake?” a bench of justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad said. The bench did not appreciate the conduct of the varsity saying it has been “turning turtle” — changing stands frequently — and noted that earlier DU claimed it is ready to conduct the open book examinations (OBE) on July 1, which it later revised to July  10.

Indicating that DU must work towards preponing the date from mid-August, the bench ordered it to file an affidavit detailing the schedule of the final-year undergraduate exams including how it proposes to conduct exams — online, off-line or both modes — besides the complete datesheet, so that students get some clarity.

The court reminded DU that examinations are nervewracking and careers of thousands of students are at stake, more so since the final year students have to be given passing out certificates and degrees to enable them to pursue higher education. It allowed DU to work out a new plan in terms of July 8 circular issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) on the manner in which the exams are to be conducted, listing the matter for July 14. The bench recalled that on June 26, DU informed the court it will go ahead with conducting exams from July 1, but the next day, postponed the exams to July 10.

The same bench had on June 29 issued notice to the varsity asking why contempt proceedings be not initiated against it and its officers for trying to mislead the court by withholding information on deferment of the online OBE from July 1 to July 10. In response DU had assured it that it is firm on holding exams from July 10. “We took you (DU) on face value and asked you to file an affidavit for clarity. Now we discover you have again changed the date to beyond August 15 and there is no exact date. What do you expect us to do. You want us to constantly monitor you on conducting exams?” the bench remarked.

FUTURE TENSE: The court reminded DU that examinations are nerve-wracking and careers of thousands of students are at stake

Cancel final-year exams: UGC ex-chief

Cancel final-year exams: UGC ex-chief

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  10.07.2020

Former UGC chairperson Sukhadeo Thorat and a few professors from Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University have jointly written to UGC asking it to reconsider its July 6 notification on exams.

“The UGC’s latest advisory on examinations is unfortunate because it takes us backwards rather than forward. It effectively extends the period for holding of exams for final year/semester cohorts until September; and is the second such postponement. It creates fresh uncertainty for states that had already decided to cancel exams,” read the letter signed by professors Apoorvanand, Nandini Sundar and N Sukumar from DU and Ayesha Kidwai and Jayati Ghosh from JNU.

The letter said that examinations held in the ‘online’ or ‘mixed’ mode will be biased because they will favour students with better access to the internet.

UGC exams-by-Sept order not fair: Bengal to MHRD

UGC exams-by-Sept order not fair: Bengal to MHRD

‘Move Against Spirit Of Federal Structure’

Somdatta.Basu@timesgroup.com

Kolkata:  10.07.2020

The Bengal government on Thursday wrote to higher education secretary, MHRD, Amit Khare criticising the UGC’s recent directive to universities, asking them to hold terminal semester examinations compulsorily by September end.

State education secretary Manish Jain said the move was against the spirit of the federal structure enshrined in the Constitution of India, as ‘education’ is placed in the concurrent list and Bengal was never consulted by the UGC despite a request.

Jain pointed out that some states and UTs such as Punjab, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Puducherry had already decided not to hold the terminal semester exams while several IITs had called off theirs.

A senior academic, however, argued that since UGC had been constituted by Parliament, in the event of a Centre-state conflict, the central laws prevailed. The present disaster act also gives the Centre a wide berth. Moreover, there should be uniformity in assessment rules to enable students to apply across colleges and universities, the academic said.

The state has mentioned that while the April advisory issued by the statutory body allowed universities to be flexible and the government or any competent authority to issue guidelines, the revised circular on Monday is in conflict with the former.

Reasoning why the state had opted for a blended model for both online and offline modes, Jain in his letter pointed out that looking at the current trend of rapidly growing number of Covid-19 cases and the projections, it could not be predicted if the situation would be conducive to holding exams by September-end.

“Besides, going through the statistics of the Government of India on digital access across the country, it will not be appropriate to hold online exams, which will be discriminatory against a large section of students, especially in rural areas, who do not have access to computers and the internet,” the letter states.

A source in the state government said Bengal’s exam advisory was based on UGC’s April guidelines, wherein universities were given an option to provide due weightage to internal assessment and performance of a candidate in earlier semesters to ensure transparency.

“Moreover, our advisory has a provision for holding special exams after the situation normalises for such students who wish to appear in a formal examination instead of the alternative evaluation method,” the source said, stressing that it would be difficult to undo such an action because state universities had already acted upon the advisory.

Conducting the terminal semester exams by September 30 will not only delay results, but also be detrimental to the career of and cause financial distress to many students who are dependent upon securing a job to sustain themselves and their families, the letter to the MHRD secretary pointed out. “It will also restrict students from applying for further higher studies, nationally and internationally, thereby demoralising them and their families,” the letter added. The state higher education department has conveyed to UGC that it is looking forward to a positive response.

Besides, going through the statistics of the Government of India on digital access across the country, it will not be appropriate to hold online exams, which will be discriminatory against a large section of students, especially in rural areas, who do not have access to computers and the internet.

It will also restrict students from applying for further higher studies, nationally and internationally, thereby demoralising them and their families

Manish Jain’s letter to MHRD

Dailyhunt, Sharechat among 89 apps banned by Army

Dailyhunt, Sharechat among 89 apps banned by Army

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  10.07.2020

The list of 89 apps that the Army has ordered all officers and soldiers to delete (reported in Thursday’s edition of TOI) include news aggregator Dailyhunt, social network Sharechat, and entertainment application Hungama.

These apps — besides social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat and games such as PUBG — were not part of the 59 apps banned by the government last week.

The apps banned by the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) like TikTok, We-Chat, UC Browser and NewsDog last week were completely or majority -owned by Chinese individuals or corporations. The Army’s ban includes companies based across the world, from the US (Facebook, Snapchat, Zoom) to Sweden (Truecaller).

The more expansive list from the Army comes amid rising concerns around honey-trapping and data misuse. In a lot of these apps the location of the user may be available, which may be risky when defence personnel are serving on the border or in sensitive locations. Sources said the Army has been concerned about the unintentional flow of information from its personnel.

“It is an area of concern and the orders have been issued from the perspective of driving a sense of discipline within the forces when it comes to their presence online,” an industry analyst, working with one of the country’s top firms, said on condition of anonymity.

The Army’s decision comes nearly a week after the Indian government ordered the blocking of 59 Chinese apps for “engaging in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order”.

An Army convoy carrying goods moves towards Leh on Thursday

In a lot of these apps the location of the user may be available, which may be risky when defence personnel are serving on the border or in sensitive locations

Raj Govt Had Decided To Cancel Exams

NSUI opposes UGC exam decision

Raj Govt Had Decided To Cancel Exams

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Jaipur:  10.07.2020

NSUI members of Rajasthan University staged a protest on the varsity campus against the decision of UGC to conduct final exams of higher educational institutes.

The Rajasthan government had already decided to cancel all the exams of higher education, but UGC a day after released the guidelines to conduct exams in September. This has now created confusion amongst students who are still not clear whether the exams will be conducted.

NSUI spokesperson Ramesh Bhati said the higher education exams should be cancelled and the government must issue guidelines to evaluate students. “We want clarity on whether exams are being cancelled. It is dangerous to appear for exams when the number of coronavirus cases is rising. There is immense fear among students. So, the government must cancel the exam for the safety of students,” Bhati said.

The Rajasthan government said that they will have a discussion with UGC to let them take a call on holding college and university exams.

Academicians of the state, however, said that it is necessary to conduct exams for final year students or it will affect their future later on. “If you promote students in final year without exams, it will have a negative impact on their future. UGC has already declared to conduct exams, but if the state government somehow goes ahead with promoting students without exams, it will be difficult to get a job in other parts of the country. Hence, for final year classes, exams must be held.”

“There should be a mechanism to mark students as anyone can be affected by coronavirus. It is necessary to keep the decision of cancellation of exams,” Bhati added.

NSUI members stage a protest at the RU campus on Thursday

Cong to organize online campaign

On the call of All Indian Congress Committee (AICC), the party state unit will organize an online campaign on Friday #Speak up for students from 10am. Deputy CM Sachin Pilot said the campaign is aimed at promotion of students to next year based on previous years’ performance without exams in the light of Covid-19.

Govt expects varsities to hold degree, PG exams

Govt expects varsities to hold degree, PG exams

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:  10.07.2020

The government on Thursday informed the high court that it will follow the UGC’s latest guidelines and would expect universities in the state to conduct examinations of degree and PG courses.

A bench of Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy was hearing two PILs seeking postponement of degree and PG exams. Advocate general BS Prasad told the bench that exams would be held in near future according to UGC guidelines and till then, examinations are postponed, he said.

Petitioners’ counsel C Damodar Reddy said that students can be promoted in tune with their past performance. Several states followed this route, he said, adding that UGC guidelines are only advisory.

The bench sought a counter from the government and posted the case to 3 weeks. The state has already postponed several comon entrance tests scheduled to be held during July.

UoH gets central grant of over ₹50 cr

UoH gets central grant of over ₹50 cr

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:  10.07,2020

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the Union ministry of science & technology has sanctioned a grant of ₹50.44 crore to the School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad (UoH) for five years.

The grant, which was sanctioned as part of the ‘Boost to University Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Department for Education and Research (BUILDER)’ programme, will be utilised by the School of Life Sciences to promote inter-disciplinary teaching and research.

The varsity will be using the grant to upgrade the central facilities of the School such as proteomics, metabolomics, genomics, greenhouse, animal house, etc. Continuous training programmes will also be organised for the benefit of faculty, masters, and research students working in less equipped remotely located universities. “It’s gratifying to see the School of Life Sciences again recognised by DBT with excellent grant support. With this support, I believe that the efforts by the faculty, post-docs, and the students will enhance research output and enable the School of Life Sciences to be among the world’s best,” said Appa Rao Podile, V-C, UoH.

Under this programme, the school has been sanctioned a budget to improve infrastructure, human resources and equipment. The DBT-BUILDER augmented infrastructure facilities will benefit masters and research students, and facilitate high-end research. The support will also be used to offer training programmes in advanced areas of biology besides encouraging student interns from other institutions.

RGPV final yr exams from July 27

RGPV final yr exams from July 27

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:10.07.2020

RGPV, technical university of Madhya Pradesh, has started preparation to conduct final semester exams for engineering and other technical courses online from July 27.

RGPV has also issued notification to start online semester classes of polytechnic colleges across the state from July 15.

RGPV’s PRO Shashi Ranjan Akela told TOI that the university will put the draft to conduct final year exams in the next executive council meeting. RGPV has also decided to start practical exams from August 4-5. Talking about the mode of the exam, Akela said, “As of now RGPV is working on conducting online exams. The offline exam decision will be at a later stage by the council.” RGPV is to conduct an exam of 36,000 final year students. Earlier, RGPV had announced to conduct an exam from July 7 but it was postponed after the state government declared to provide general promotion to the students including to those in the final year. Sources said, students will be given the weight of 50% of the semester grade point average (SGPS), based on their seventh semester. These will be based on a committee that had made specific recommendations for conducting exams from July 7. As per recommendation, at least two mock tests would be organised before the final exams to help students familiarise with the online test process.

The platform to be used for the exam should be compatible with desktop, laptop, tablet and smartphones. Students will have to record themselves taking the exam to check the possibility of cheating and other unfair means.

Post-grad exams a nightmare for doctors and board

Post-grad exams a nightmare for doctors and board

Rema.Nagarajan@timesgroup.com

10.07.2020

Practical exams for thousands of doctors doing Diplomate of National Board (DNB), a post-graduate course, has turned out to be a nightmare for most of them who are on Covid duty, and for the institution conducting the exam, the National Board of Examination (NBE).

With states and even individual cities or districts moving in and out of various levels of lockdown, DNB doctors are under severe stress about making it to exam centres located in cities across India. They are also worried that they might be put under quarantine or might test positive close to exam date or that they might catch the infection while traveling or appearing for the exam to places or hospitals that are Covid hotspots.

The practical exams are for 18 out of 57 specialties and super specialties in which NBE conducts DNB courses. Theory exams were held in December 2019. Practical exams were to be in April but got delayed by the pandemic. NBE executive director Prof Pawanindra Lal told TOI that it was imperative to hold these exams as these specialties were feeder qualifications for the NEET super specialty entrance examination and fellowship entrance test to be held in September.

Many DNB candidates sought a waiver of practical exams altogether. However, senior DNB faculty members point out that for clinical specialties, practical exams to test clinical skills should not be waived. However, they agree that it is insensitive to expect them to travel during Covid. Exams for just 18 specialties, extending from July 14 till August 27 will involve almost 4,000 DNB candidates having to travel to exam centres across India.

Dr Lal said, “We are trying to ensure minimum travel for students and are in touch with every student who got a centre outside their own state because we understand the challenges of interstate travel. For instance, when Kolkata announced a shut down, we had to create a new centre in Guwahati for just two candidates from there and another from Manipur,” explained Dr Lal. However, candidates insist that a majority have not got a centre even within the zone they chose, leave alone the state. A candidate from Punjab has got a centre in Bangalore and another from Maharashtra got a centre in Karnataka. With Karnataka’s policy of 14-day quarantine for those from Maharashtra, the candidate is worried.

CBSE course cut to impact JEE, NEET tests next year

CBSE course cut to impact JEE, NEET tests next year

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi  10.07.2020

: The impact of rationalisation of CBSE syllabus for 2020-21will not be restricted to next year’s Board exams alone but also on JEE (Main) and NEET-UG, the competitive tests for admission to engineering and medical courses. Deletion of topics from physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology, which are also part of the syllabus for JEE (Main) and NEET-UG, make paper-setting for the medical and engineering entrance tests of 2021 a tricky affair.

The National Testing Agency on Thursday consulted subject experts on the issue and plans to place the matter before the Joint Admission Board (JAB). The IITs, which conduct JEE (Advanced) will also put it up for review by its committee and paper setters to assess the effect.

The CBSE on Tuesday announced its revised syllabus for the 2020-21 academic session due to Covid-19 outbreak where key topics like laws of motion, optics, communication system and electronic devices in physics; 3D geometry, continuity and differentiability, binomial theorem in mathematics; some P-block elements, environmental chemistry, polymers, general principles and processes of isolation of elements in chemistry; and human physiology and reproduction, among others, in biology were dropped.

According to NTA sources, the agency placed the revised syllabus of the CBSE before its subject expert committee on Thursday. The experts observed that since the biggest chunk of candidates for the medical and engineering entrance tests comes from the CBSE, it will have to significantly change the question papers.

A senior NTA official said, “When we plotted our syllabus with that of the revised CBSE syllabus, there is a huge difference. Though senior secondary students start preparing for the exams much early, one can’t ignore the changes in the syllabus.”

CBSE on Tuesday announced its revised syllabus for the 2020-21 academic session due to Covid-19 outbreak

GTU to conduct exams in MCQ , OMR formats

GTU to conduct exams in MCQ , OMR formats

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:  10.07.2020

The Gujarat Technological University has decided to conduct online and offline (pen & paper) exams for final-year students in OMR and MCQ based question paper formats, respectively.

The online exams will consist of 70 marks paper having 70 questions, the duration of which will be 70 minutes.

This decision was taken on Thursday at a meeting of faculty deans from various GTU affiliated colleges. Plans are afoot to conduct the online exams before July 30.

“It has been decided to conduct exams for final year undergraduate students in OMR format before end of this month. We are planning to do the same for post graduate candidates also,” said Navin Sheth, vicechancellor of GTU. In the case of online exams, students can take the test using cellphones, laptops, desktops, tablets or other such devices with internet connectivity.

For students who do not have access to internet, arrangements will be made by colleges like setting up of computer terminals or Wi-Fi hotspots.

GTU is expected to announce the exam dates for pen & paper exams by August 15, said sources.

For students who cannot take either of the two – the offline and online exams, the varsity will conduct special exams that will be held before September 30 according to University Grants Commission’s latest guidelines. Gujarat education department has directed all varsities to conduct online exams before end of July. An estimated 54,000 students are likely to participate in the GTU exams for final year. GTU will perhaps become the first university in Gujarat to hold the final semester exam in MCQ and OMR formats.

Earlier the varsity had decided on conducting theory exams from July 2 however it had to cancel at the eleventh hour after the state government directed all universities to cancel exams till further directions from the Centre and UGC.

GU defers PG dental exams

Gujarat University has decided to defer the exams for postgraduate dental courses that were slated to begin from July 14. The exams will now be held later after getting a go-ahead from the state government. The varsity has also decided to defer the exams for various courses including paramedical, Masters in Physiotherapy, MSC Nursing and BHMS. These exams have been rescheduled to July 20, said sources.

Former UGC chief seeks cancellation of final-year exams

Former UGC chief seeks cancellation of final-year exams

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: 10.07.2020

Former University Grants Commission (UGC) chairperson Sukhadeo Thorat and a few professors from Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University have jointly written to UGC asking it to reconsider its July 6 notification on exams.

“The UGC’s latest advisory on examinations is unfortunate because it takes us backwards rather than forward. It effectively extends the period for holding of exams for final-year/semester cohorts until September; and is the second such postponement. It creates fresh uncertainty for states that had already decided to cancel exams,” read the letter signed by professors Apoorvanand, Nandini Sundar and N Sukumar from DU and Ayesha Kidwai and Jayati Ghosh from JNU.

“The recommendation to cancel exams was prompted by an unprecedented health emergency, not by doubts about the value of examinations. When faced with such an emergency, cancelling exams has two main advantages: First, it avoids the extended uncertainty created by repeated (but unavoidable) postponements. Second, it protects the integrity of the examination by refusing to abandon its two most basic features — impartiality, or equal treatment of all examinees; and close supervision to prevent cheating,” the signatories added.

The letter said that examinations held in the ‘online’ or ‘mixed’ mode will be biased because they will favour students with better access to the internet.

“Cancelling exams during a pandemic is sensible and fair precisely because examinations are important and must not be devalued. It is to be expected that the uncertainties of a pandemic situation will create the genuine need for repeated postponements. Using alternative methods of evaluation based on each student’s own past performance (in exams conducted in normal times) offers a fair solution and brings closure, with the option of retaking the exam when normalcy is restored,” the letter further added.

கத்தாரில் மேலும் 608 பேருக்கு கொரோனா

கத்தாரில் மேலும் 608 பேருக்கு கொரோனா

Updated : ஜூலை 08, 2020 21:03 | Added : ஜூலை 08, 2020 21:02

தோஹா : கத்தாரில் கொரோனா தொற்று அதிகரித்து மேலும் 608 பேர் நோய் தொற்றால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டதாக அந்நாட்டின் சுகாதாரதுறை தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

கொரோனா வைரசின் தாக்கம் உலகின் பல நாடுகளையும் அச்சுறுத்தி வருகிறது. கத்தாரில் கொரோனா தொற்றுக்கு இன்று 608 பேர் புதிதாக பாதிக்கப்பட்டது பரிசோதனையில் உறுதியானது. இதனால் நாட்டில் மொத்த நோய் பாதிப்புகளின் எண்ணிக்கை 1,01,415 ஆக உயர்ந்தது. கத்தாரில் தொற்றுக்கு புதிதாக 4 பேர் பலியாகியுள்ளனர். இதுவரை கத்தாரில் கொரோவிற்கு பலியானவர்களின் எண்ணிக்கை 138 ஆக அதிகரித்தது. ஒரு நாளில் நோய் பாதிப்புகளில் இருந்து 1,204 பேர் முழுமையாக குணமடைந்துள்ளனர். கத்தாரில் கொரோனா பாதிப்புகளில் இருந்து மீட்கப்பட்டவர்களின் எண்ணிக்கை 96,107 ஆக அதிகரித்துள்ளது.

நாட்டில் தீவிர சிகிச்சையில் 712 பேர் மற்றும் சிக்கலான மற்றும் பாதிப்புகளை கொண்ட 154 பேர் உட்பட 5,308 பேர் மொத்தமாக சிகிச்சையில் உள்ளனர். கடந்த 24 மணிநேரத்தில் மட்டும் 5,202 பேருக்கு சோதனை நடத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன. கத்தாரில் தொற்று நோய்க்கு இதுவரை 3,96,199 பேரின் மாதிரிகள் சேகரிக்கப்பட்டு பரிசோதனைக்கு உட்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன.

Pandemic delay leaves grad students worried

Pandemic delay leaves grad students worried

Mohita.Tewari@timesgroup.com

Lucknow:  09.07.2020

While the corona pandemic has derailed the academic calender this year, students are now worried that the ripple effect may continue next year too, as the academic sessions of all the universities in Lucknow are set to get delayed by at least three months. Worst hit are the final year students, many of whom may lose the opportunity to apply for higher studies or research programmes and even competitive examinations.

The academic sessions in most universities begin in July. But this year, even results have not been declared yet. While some universities have decided to promote students to next classes based on internal evaluation and performance in the previous semester, Lucknow University is yet to take a call on promotion policy. Officers of various universities say it will take at least three months to put the session back on the track.

TOI spoke to students of LU, Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University (SMNRU), Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University (KMCLU) and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) on the issue.

The common refrain was that the delay in start of the new session would extend their course duration by 3-4 months. This means, they will not be able to apply elsewhere for admission/research after graduation/postgraduation, winter internship plans would get derailed, and they may even lose an attempt in competitive exams which have limited attempts or age-bar. Students, therefore, want the government to chalk out a plan to check this ripple effect.

Arshit Shukla, BA III student of LU, said, “Had results been declared by now, we would have applied for admission in post graduation at other places. Now, it seems, the option for us would be to continue here.”

Mohit Singh, LU BSc III student, said he had plans to pursue postgraduation in Delhi and alongside join the coaching for civil service exams. But the plan is now on hold due to delay in announcement of results.

Abid Hasan, BCom II student of SMNRU, said, “Neither results have been declared nor have classes resumed. It seems the three-year course will take three-and-ahalf-year to complete and thereby impact our future prospects.”

“The summer break has already gone unutilized and now it appears the delay in session will also hit internship plans in winter break,” said Akshay Mishra, BTech III, Institute of Engineering and Technology, AKTU.

Priya Malhotra, who has passed Class XII and applied for graduation, said “Normally, new session would begin in July, but this year the admission process will be completed by September-October, which means fewer months to complete the session or a delay in the three-year-course.”

Barely 20% colleges want central system

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Lucknow

: Less than 20% of the colleges associated with Lucknow University have opted for admissions under the university’s newly introduced centralised admission system. As many as 35 colleges out of 176 had applied for the system by Wednesday, the last day for the application.

None of the four government and 20 government-aided colleges applied for admitting students under the university’s system. The colleges which have sent their assent for the system are private ones which have applied mainly for conducting admissions for professional courses like BBA and BCom (Hons).

The city’s top colleges such as National PG College, Jai Narain PG College, Isabella Thoburn College, Avadh Girls Degree College and Lucknow Christian College have already refused the new process, saying their admission process had already begun or that they had their own system to maintain their brand.

“LU has given the freedom to colleges to decide whether they want to go for centralised admission or not. The university will conduct the admission process of those which have applied under the centralised system,” said LU spokesperson Durgesh Srivastava.

On July 2, LU had sent a notification to all colleges informing them that for the first time the university will conduct centralised admissions. Under the new plan, along with admitting its own students, LU would also conduct admissions of colleges affilaited to it.

Xavier’s Univ among first to follow UGC exam diktat

Xavier’s Univ among first to follow UGC exam diktat

Scraps Plan To Publish Result On July 10

Somdatta.Basu@timesgroup.com

Kolkata:

St Xavier’s University becomes one of the first educational institutions in Bengal to follow UGC diktat and prepare to take tests for terminal-semester students by the end of September. This, when the university was ready to publish its terminal semester and MBA results on July 10. It will now suspend the earlier assessments and conduct a 50-mark online test for the end semester.

With hundreds of students already bagging jobs and scheduled to join the companies by this month, St Xavier’s University vice-chancellor Fr Felix Raj has written to the employers, seeking extension to submit the final semester marksheets, even for MBA graduates. Several students are also looking to join foreign universities, where they have to submit their final semester transcripts within a deadline.

“We had followed the UGC advisory, which was brought out in April, advising the universities to allocate 50% weightage to previous semesters and another 50% to continuous assessments. We had prepared our own formula, in which 50% marks were assigned to the previous semester, 25% on internal assessment and for the remaining 25%, we conducted exams on the virtual platform, based on online classes held during the lockdown,” said Fr Felix Raj. The evaluation was completed by June 30 and the marks were submitted to the controller of examinations. The university was ready with the results.

But UGC’s Monday notification left little scope for universities to allot marks to previous semesters, as was prescribed earlier. “We will now have to scrap the 50% weightage to marks from previous semesters and take online exams on 50 marks in each subject. We had conducted 25-mark online tests earlier. So, together it will be 75 marks in online exams and 25 on internal assessments,” said the Xavier’s University VC. “The new proposal will be placed before the executive council, the highest administrative decision-making body on Thursday.”

“The new circular says universities have to take exams for all terminal-semester candidates in offline, blended or online mode. Based on the infrastructure of the institutions, they can choose their mode,” said a senior higher education department official. He added though most state universities still stuck to the state-prescribed 80-20 evaluation formula, it was always better to follow UGC guidelines to have a parity among universities across India.

About publishing results, Fr Felix Raj said, “We will make fresh announcements. Now, we can only conduct online exams in August since in July, multiple areas in Bengal will be under lockdown. We had thought publication of results would have helped students focus ahead.”

Students fear the exams might be pushed back even further if lockdown continues. Some MBA students are apprehensive that their new employers might not entertain their request to extended the deadline to submit final marksheets. The university has written to all employers, informing them about the delay in publishing results and requesting them to either defer the joining dates or allow students to submit the final semester transcript later.

The university has 600 terminal-semester students in UG and PC together. The MBA course has another 120 students in the final semester.

St Xavier’s University will hold a 50-mark online test

Health staff stays aloof from guv, gap widens

Health staff stays aloof from guv, gap widens

Sribala.Vadlapatla@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:  09.07.2020

Is there concern not just among senior government officials but also among doctors about governor Tamilisai Soundararajan’s visits to hospitals to take stock of Covid-19 situation? It appears so, going by the reluctance of the authorities of Gandhi Hospital — the nodal Covid hospital in Telangana — to allow the first citizen of the state when she wished to visit the hospital.

Some time back, the governor had visited the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, interacted with Covid-19 patients and the doctors treating them. The governor said she visited NIMS — where several doctors had tested positive for coronavirus — to express solidarity with the medical professionals as she is a doctor herself.

She even said the government’s response to her letters on handling of Covid-19 had been lukewarm and implored the TRS government to follow the Centre’s guidelines by increasing the testing and sharing information with people on impact of the virus.

That was enough for senior officials to distance themselves from Raj Bhavan. Chief secretary Somesh Kumar and special CS, health, Santhi Kumari gave a meeting called by the governor a miss on Monday. Eventually, the meeting was cancelled.

That the state health department was also not happy about her visit to NIMS could be gauged by the officials’ attempts to dissuade her from making a visit to Gandhi Hospital. Despite her several attempts, a visit to Gandhi has not materialised till now. Highly-placed sources told TOI that she was keen to visit Gandhi Hospital first before making a trip to NIMS. “But, some ‘forces,’ including senior doctors, are opposing her visit,” an official said. “No one wants to upset the top brass, especially when there is a strong perception that there are serious differences between the TRS government and Raj Bhavan,” the official added.

Not just us, many believe that the gap between Raj Bhavan and the TRS regime is widening. We also did not attend the meeting as we cannot afford to rub the government on the wrong side,” a top executive of a corporate hospital told TOI.

“Remember, she was a leading gynaecologist in Tamil Nadu before coming here and taking over as a governor.She is concerned about the pandemic and health of the people. So, she does take extra interest in the health of Covid-affected people,” a Raj Bhavan source told TOI.

Another factor which might have upset the government was governor Tamilisai Soundararajan being ‘active’ on Twitter and talking about coronavirus cases’ review and her visits

NTA to review JEE Jan cycle, NEET 2021 after schools reopen

NTA to review JEE Jan cycle, NEET 2021 after schools reopen

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 09.07.2020

As schools continue to remain shut and entrance examinations for admission to engineering and medical courses have been repeatedly postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Testing Agency has decided to take a review of the January-cycle of JEE (Main) after the schools reopen.

The JEE (main) was converted to ‘twice a year’ affair in 2019 – January and April cycles. The computer-based competitive exam for April 2020 had to be postponed twice due to the Covid-19 outbreak and is now slated to be held in September. In view of the delay, NTA plans to review the January 2021 exam.

A senior official in the HRD ministry said, “NTA will take a call depending on the prevailing situation after the schools reopen. The agency will also have to take into consideration Board exams, specially of CBSE and whether the 2021 Board exams can be conducted in February.”

The official said any further postponement of reopening of schools and other school exams will impact the schedule of JEE (Main) as well as NEET-UG of 2021.

Sources in CBSE said it is too early to predict.

The other exams likely to be impacted are national level entrance exams such as Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) and Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT), which are conducted around the last week of January besides UGC-NET of December, 2020.

According to National Testing Agency sources, postponement of JEE (Main) and NEET-UG to September will have a cascading effect and push the JNU and DU entrance exams to October.

Varsity exam nod upsets students

Varsity exam nod upsets students

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

09.07.2020

Bengaluru: Undergraduate and postgraduate students are upset with the central government’s decision to allow universities to conduct final-term exams this year, saying online classes had been not useful and some physical sessions should be held before the papers.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is expected to advise universities to hold exams before September-end. The department of higher education in Karnataka is expected to convene a meeting of vicechancellors on Thursday to discuss the issue.

Students said after concerns about the effectiveness of web sessions, many universities had promised to conduct on-campus classes before exams. They fear the exams will be fast-tracked and they won’t get enough time to prepare.

The All India Democratic Students’ Organisation has demanded cancellation of final-year exams. “Recently, the Supreme Court allowed cancellation of CBSE and ICSE exams. The number of students under UGC is much larger. Most of the institutions have not completed the syllabus and the reach of online classes is negligible in the country. The decision to conduct the examination has come as a rude shock to students,” it said.

Sowmya KP, a BSc student, wondered whether it was safe for candidates, who had returned to their hometowns, to travel amid a spike in infections. KR Venugopal, V-C, Bangalore University, said when and how the exams should be conducted would be discussed at Thursday’s meeting. “If we are to conduct exams, we need physical classes. For that, hostels have to be open,” he said. Full report toi.in