Nagpur University defers all summer exams indefinitely

Vaibhav Ganjapure | TNN | Updated: Apr 14, 2020, 12:42 IST

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NAGPUR: Following extension of lockdown till April 30 due to Covid-19 pandemic, the Nagpur University (NU) has deferred its fourth phase of examinations involving about 1.10 lakh students scheduled from April 23.
With this, NU’s majority of summer exams, involving over 675 exams and 4.50 lakh students, have been deferred indefinitely till the threat of the virus persists. The last phase had exams of entire engineering faculty along with MA, MSc, MSW and other courses.
“As per the directives from the Maharashtra government and subsequent orders from vice-chancellor (additional charge) Murlidhar Chandekar, all examinations slated to be held from April 15 to 30 have been deferred till further notice. It would also include practical and viva-voce exams,” the notification by Board of Examination and Evaluation (BoEE) director Prafulla Sable stated.
Another notification by registrar Neeraj Khaty directed NU officials to extend work from home till April 30 in view of new directives by the government.
Sable told TOI that the papers scheduled after April 30 would also be pushed further as it would be impossible for any university to immediately conduct them after work resumes. “We would require about 15-20 days for restarting official work as the entire examination section has been locked. We open the offices only for urgent work like sending students’ transcripts, that too just a couple of us. We’re waiting for further directives from the government.”
The BoEE director said that even the work of paper setting, evaluation and moderation was stopped following directives from the government. “Other NU offices are working at a meagre staff of 5% to maintain social distancing. Some NU employees are assigned government work in ration shops,” he said.
Govt may ask colleges to conduct exams on its level
NU officials said that the report prepared by a panel of four vice-chancellors to tide over the crisis had suggested the government to allow colleges to conduct all summer exams at their respective levels. “The state higher and technical education department wouldn’t have any other better alternative. It would soon announce committee’s recommendations, else the entire academic calendar of next year (2020-21) would be adversely affected,” they warned.