Nagpur University excludes 5,000 external students from Oct exams

NAGPUR: Even as the Nagpur University is conducting examinations of its final year students, it has left nearly 5,000 external students along with those pursuing one-year degree courses in a quandary. The university’s exams would commence from October 1 and continue till October 18, while results would be out by October 31.
A circular issued by NU Board of Examination and Evaluation (BOEE) director Prafulla Sable on September 8 regarding conduct of exams clearly mentioned that papers of external students wouldn’t be held and they would be allowed to appear in regular papers in future. The director clarified the decision was taken by a ten-member task force constituted by vice-chancellor Subhash Chaudhari for holding the delayed exams.
Sable said papers of external students could not be conducted with final year exams as they lacked the practical component. “Currently, our exams are being conducted as per the 50:50 formula where internal marks are a major component. Since external students don’t have any practical/internal in their syllabus, they can’t be fitted into the scheme of exams as per 50:50 formula,” he said.
The director, however, assured the students their exams would be held once the Covid-19 pandemic situation was normalized. “We are planning to hold their papers along with our winter exams or even before that. We will not put them at any loss,” he said.
Sable said about 3,500 such students were enrolled in BA courses, some 700-800 in MA courses and a small number in LLM course. “Actually, the university had granted external students much flexibility. They can even take admissions in summer and don’t have to attend college. Therefore, there are no practical or internal exams for them. If we try to fit such students into the current scheme of 50:50 exams, they would face difficulties,” he explained.
Calling NU’s move as an “injustice”, the students said they would be at a loss. They have shot off a letter to state higher and technical education minister Uday Samant, who was in the city on Monday. “We will lose the entire academic year for no fault of ours. We request you to direct the NU administration to conduct our exams simultaneously along with other students,” they wrote.