S. Vishnu Sharma
UGC Panel has put forth the suggestion to to do away the process of conducting exams for the final year students in universities and higher education institutions across India.
If things go on as per what the panel appointed by University Grants Commission (UGC), then the students studying final year in universities and other educational institutions across India will not have the need to write exams for final year.
UGC Panel 2020
The suggestion UGC Panel made to Government of India is getting different reactions as of now. While couple of students have welcomed it and many others are not sure what to do.
The entire nation went into a lockdown more than three months ago. This was to do regulate the spread of corona virus.
Everything came to a standstill in India, right from the economy to the education. On the academic front, competitive education exams, competitive recruitment exams of the government, school exams and university and college exams came to a halt.
Even admission process also is also more or less witnessing a delay. Putting many parents and students under doubt as to whether they would be able to write the exams or not.
This has also made them worry about their future, for their career prospects depends on their academic (qualification) achievements.
It was amidst such a situation that the organisation into regulation of higher education had formed the panel to come out with alternative ways to assess the students.
If the students don’t write the final year exams, how will they be evaluated? UGC Panel suggested that students can be evaluated based on their performance in the previous semesters and internal assessments.
The suggestion made by UGC Panel is worth taking, says Dhirendiran, a guest lecturer in a private college. Corona virus is yet to subside and conducting exams amidst this situation will only give way to more trouble, he says.
If we are to conduct the exams, we may require more number of exam centres as of now than what we require usually to ensure social distancing norms.
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This under present circumstances may not be possible, reminds S.R. Ramkumar, a final year post graduate student.
Moreover, there is a need to ensure safety of students, invigilators all this would require sanitizers, PPE kits and making them available at the present moment may only be challenging.
Hope the suggestion made by UGC Panel is accepted, he suggests. The UGC Panel is headed by vice-chancellor of Haryana University R.C. Kuhad and it has said that the final semester as per the revised academic calendar is to be conducted in July.
This seems to be not viable as conducting the exams has the risk of exposing students to corona virus, say sources. That is why UGC Panel is said to have suggested cancellation of exams.
Treading on the sameline is K. Narayanamurthy, a history lecturer. It is even about students who are residing in containment zones.
Reaching examination centre may not be that easy. It is better to take into consideration the suggestion made by UCG Panel. There is a way out, but it is not easy.
Conducting examination in two slots, first will be for students in areas with no infection, the second slot will be for those who are in the containment zones.
The second slot can be conducted after the situation becomes better. But this is not easy to do as it requires effort, time and financial resources, and, getting them is not easy.
The UGC Panel further says students who will not be satisfied with the marks they get from the previous examinations can be given a chance to enhance their marks through exams.
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UGC Panel says these exams for improving scores can be taken once the COVID-19 situation subsides and things become better.
UGC Panel also said that educational institutions can start their new sessions for old students and new students should be in October.
The new class sessions for old students was planned in July, while the same for new students was planned in August. Taking the suggestions made by UGC Panel, a new set of guidelines are likely to be issued soon.