Maharashtra: Final year examination cancel but what about blacklog students

Pune: Although the Maharashtra State Government has decided to cancel the final year examination but around 3.5 lakh students whose backlogs are pending are concerned about their clearance degree certificate.

The Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday via Facebook live mentioned that the final year examinations will not be conducted. Maharashtra is worst-affected State due to the coronavirus and districts like Pune, Kolhapur, Mumbai, Amravati and others, are hotspots.

More than nine lakh students futures were pending about the final year examination as initially; it was a plan to conduct the examination in July. But on Sunday when Maharashtra CM Thackeray cancelled the final year examination, it was a major relief for students and it was announced that the marks would be based on the previous semester's examination average score. 

But at present, there are a total of 45 per cent of students across various universities from Maharashtra who are facing a backlog. Nearly 75,000 (35 per cent of the students) students from Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) are facing backs.

This decision has brought relaxation to more than nine lakh students who were eagerly waiting for their fate.

Speaking to Sakal Times, Kalpesh Yadav Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena party worker who has raised this issue to CM and said, "CM and government have spoken about final year examination to cancelled, but nowhere there was a discussion or decision on the backlog students. The students will get marks based on their previous aggregate performance, but what about the backlog students?"

He added, "Total there are 45 per cent students across Maharashtra's which means more than 3.50 lakh students until they clear those examinations they will not get a degree but also there is a fear of year loss. The government must also look into this aspect, considering the number of students facing the issue is huge."

On Sunday late evening CM Thackeray on Facebook Live said, "We were thinking of conducting the examination in July or in August, but it was not possible due to the pandemic. In such a critical situation students should not be kept waiting for a long time. So we came up with a solution of considering the average of the marks of previous semesters. Those students who fear to get less marks can give examination later and score additional marks when the examination will be declared." 

CM Thackeray added, "During our last meeting with other vice-chancellors of various universities were in favour of examination. But the pandemic is changing and is unpredictable at this moment. It was difficult to conduct the examination in July."

The Maharashtra State Government's Department of Higher and Technical Education on May 8 had issued a notification that only final year students and final semester examinations will be conducted, while the first and the second year students will be given marks based on internal assessment and previous examination performances. 

On Saturday, the chief minister and the education minister, along with officials, had a meeting via video conferencing with all vice-chancellors of various universities to discuss the issues about final-year examinations.