CUJ increases working hours, curtails holidays to compensate for losses

Ranchi: The Central University of Jharkhand (CUJ) released its updated academic calendar on Friday under which classes will now be running for nine hours — 8:30am to 5:30pm — for five days in a week, instead of eight hours, from August 1. The updated calendar has curtailed holidays and cultural activities to compensate for the loss in the number of classes owing to the ongoing lockdown.
Manoj Kumar, who is in-charge of the internal quality assurance cell at CUJ, said, “We have decided to cut down on some cultural activities and have increased the working hours by an hour. Even the lunch hour will now be for just 45 minutes, instead of an hour. We are currently running late by one and a half months but we hope to make up for the losses by July next year.”
Although the University Grants Commission (UGC) suggested to run classes 180 days in a year, CUJ will continue with 176 working days.
Kumar said that although UGC asked the universities to opt for alternate ways of conducting exams, CUJ may continue with the current method.
Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University in Ranchi will provide its students with study material next month for their examination scheduled in July and it will release the new academic calendar by next week. Kolhan University is, however, waiting for instructions from the state government. Vice-chancellor Shukla Mohanty said, “We are working on a new academic calendar in sync with UGC’s guidelines but before we can finalise it, we are waiting for the state government’s instructions.” Mohanty added that they are planning to reduce the number of holidays to make up for lost time but they will not extend the working hours.
Vinoba Bhave University in Hazaribag will curtail winter vacation and Dussehra holidays in its new academic calendar. Vice-chancellor Ramesh Sharan said, “We have prepared the new calendar and we are ready to begin classes for the new students from September.” VBU is also planning to conduct online examination for its MBA students.