Final exams for all Maharashtra universities not likely to be conducted before May 15
Final exams across public universities in the state will, most likely, be held only after May 15.
MUMBAI: Final exams across public universities in the state will, most likely, be held only after May 15. In a virtual meeting organised by governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, who is also the chancellor of universities, most vice-chancellors agreed that it may be difficult to conduct any exam before mid-May given the rise in cases and the consequent lockdown.
State higher education minister Uday Samant informed the governor that a six-member panel - comprising vice-chancellors of Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur and SNDT universities and directors of higher and technical education - has been formed to chalk out multiple plans to conduct final exams. As Plan A, if the lockdown is lifted in April, vice-chancellors have been told to figure out ways to hold exams from mid-May. As Plan B, if the lockdown goes on, they have been told to explore possibilities of holding exams in smaller groups later. Besides, they have been told to examine other options.
"Even if the lockdown is lifted at some point, we cannot allow students in large numbers in colleges," said Mumbai University vice-chancellor Suhas Pednekar. The committee has been asked to submit a report with multiple plans within two days. All public universities in the state will follow a uniform exam schedule and for the new academic calendar, said a statement from Raj Bhavan.
The governor has asked universities to use technology to ensure that the teaching-learning process does not suffer due to the outbreak.
Universities have also been asked to make use of their emergency fund to support innovative initiatives like Covid-19 testing labs, making masks, manufacturing sanitisers, kits, low-cost ventilators. Mumbai University, too, is working on building a facility for Covid-19 testing, said Pednekar. The varsity also plans to raise funds through CSR activities.
Each district under public universities has been told to make available a team of at least 30 trained NSS volunteers as secondary support to collectors. Mumbai University has already formed its team.
The Governor also informed that he has donated at least a month's salary and urged the vice-chancellors to contribute.
State higher education minister Uday Samant informed the governor that a six-member panel - comprising vice-chancellors of Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur and SNDT universities and directors of higher and technical education - has been formed to chalk out multiple plans to conduct final exams. As Plan A, if the lockdown is lifted in April, vice-chancellors have been told to figure out ways to hold exams from mid-May. As Plan B, if the lockdown goes on, they have been told to explore possibilities of holding exams in smaller groups later. Besides, they have been told to examine other options.
"Even if the lockdown is lifted at some point, we cannot allow students in large numbers in colleges," said Mumbai University vice-chancellor Suhas Pednekar. The committee has been asked to submit a report with multiple plans within two days. All public universities in the state will follow a uniform exam schedule and for the new academic calendar, said a statement from Raj Bhavan.
The governor has asked universities to use technology to ensure that the teaching-learning process does not suffer due to the outbreak.
Universities have also been asked to make use of their emergency fund to support innovative initiatives like Covid-19 testing labs, making masks, manufacturing sanitisers, kits, low-cost ventilators. Mumbai University, too, is working on building a facility for Covid-19 testing, said Pednekar. The varsity also plans to raise funds through CSR activities.
Each district under public universities has been told to make available a team of at least 30 trained NSS volunteers as secondary support to collectors. Mumbai University has already formed its team.
The Governor also informed that he has donated at least a month's salary and urged the vice-chancellors to contribute.
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