College, University Final Year Exams may cancel? Details here.

Final Year Exams of students in universities and higher education institutions which were to be held in July are likely to be canceled in view of the spike in COVID-19 cases, and the commencement of the new session is likely to be deferred to October, according to officials.

Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) to revisit the guidelines issued earlier for intermediate and terminal semester examination, and the academic calendar. According to officials, a panel, set up by UGC and headed by Haryana University vice-chancellor R C Kuhad, has been asked to revisit the guidelines and come up with alternative options. The revised guidelines are expected to be announced by the higher education regulator within a week’s time.

“The ministry has made it clear that the foundation for revisited guidelines shall be the health and safety of students, teachers staff. The expert committee is of the view that the examinations due in July in most universities as per the revised academic calendar be canceled and marks for final examination be awarded based on the past performance of each student.

So here’s what will happen now 

1. Educational activities were supposed to resume from July after consultation with the stakeholders. The schools will be reopened only after mid-August, the minister said earlier. many states are under lockdown till June 30. West Bengal has extended the lockdown until July 31. So basically, education institutions won’t start functioning in July.

2. Lakhs of students were supposed to take the Final Year Exams. Holding these examinations as per schedule will expose them to serious COVID-19 threats.

3. So how will they be evaluated? The University Grants Commission will come out with a detailed SOP in this regard. According to reports, the final year students will be evaluated based on their previous semester examinations.

4. UGC had come up with a detailed guideline in April in which it had recommended online examinations for the final year students. But not all universities have the required arrangement.

5. The MHRD minister has now asked the UGC to come up with some alternative options.

6. The new semester will begin in October.

7. Earlier, it was decided that colleges will start their new session in September. But now, the dates are likely to be postponed.

8. With this development, it is likely that the pending CBSE Board exams will also be canceled. The decision is expected on Thursday.