The novel coronavirus has unleashed a threat to our health at the same it created disastrous effect on many sectors of our life. Amidst the widespread of this deadly virus, the uncertainty is looming over the education scenario. And the students are disturbed and anxious about their future.
State Governor Bhagat SinghKoshyari on Friday asked Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to resolve the issue of conduct of final-year university exams “without any further delay in the larger interest of students”.
In a letter to the CM, Koshyari said “not conducting the final year examinations by the universities amounts to breach of UGC guidelines”.
Taking strong objection to the letter written by state Minister of Higher and Technical Education Uday Samant to UGC recommending cancellation of final year examinations, the governor asked Thackeray to issue suitable instructions to the minister for his “unwarranted intervention”.
The governor noted that as per provisions of the relevant Universities Act, universities have the power and duties to hold examinations and confer degrees upon successful students. It would not be “ethical or appropriate” to award degrees to final year students without conducting examinations, which results in violation of the provisions of the Universities Act.
The governor pointed out that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has granted exemption from lockdown measures to the State Education Boards, CBSE, ICSE etc. to conduct Class X and XII exams.
The UGC has issued guidelines on lockdown measures covering important dimensions related to examinations, academic calendar, etc. for adoption by universities.