Nagpur: Come Thursday, when BEd first semester students appear for their third paper, it would be over a year since their offline examinations commenced. Their first paper was held in March last year and then due to Covid-19 outbreak, their exam was rescheduled to February 22 this year. After they appeared in their second paper, the second wave of deadly virus struck the region and again their remaining third and fourth papers were deferred.
It was only after their plight was highlighted by the media, including TOI, that NU agreed to conduct their exams on March 18 and 20. However, due to Covid-19 induced second lockdown from March 15, their remaining papers were in doubt. The NU authorities then persuaded the civic officials and police to allow these students to appear for their exams, which had been held up from last one year.
The students said they were admitted for a two-year course in July 2019, and would have graduated by this July. However, their first semester exam scheduled in October-November was deferred citing the Maharashtra assembly polls by the NU administration. After their first paper in March last year, their exam was indefinitely postponed due to Covid-19 induced lockdown.
When NU conducted summer-2020 exams in October-November in online format, it was also decided to conduct their offline papers. However, most of the examinees hailing from various places in the state requested NU to postpone it, as it wouldn’t have been possible for them to reach Nagpur due to travel restrictions. Even the hostels were closed that time.
The NU Examination Section officials told them that since they appeared in offline mode in the first paper, it wouldn’t be possible to change the format now. Subsequently, their exams couldn’t be held at that time.
When the Covid-19 situation normalized, NU decided to conduct their remaining papers from February 22. After their third paper, many officials at the exam centre of Dr Ambedkar College at Deekshabhoomi tested positive, which again led to cancellation of their exams.
Though Board of Examination and Evaluation (BOEE) director Prafulla Sable had made alternate arrangements for them at Dhanwate National College (DNC) for remaining papers, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) administration warned NU against conducting exams amid rising number of cases.
“At the time we should be searching for jobs, we’re still appearing in our first semester exams. Due to NU’s negligence, we’re suffering and our two years have been wasted. Had they taken exams in December 2019, we would have been in our third semester. Due to this inordinate delay, we’re facing problems in appearing for Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) and jobs,” the aggrieved students told TOI, hoping that their remaining papers wouldn’t get affected.
UNENDING WAIT
* Students took admission in BEd course in July 2019
* They should have appeared in first sem exam in Oct-Nov 2019
* Exams were deferred due to assembly elections
* Exams rescheduled to March 2020 & 1st paper was held
* Due to Covid-19 outbreak, remaining papers postponed
* Exams fixed in this year & 2nd paper held on Feb 22
* Papers delayed after exam centre staffers tested positive
* Exam rescheduled for March 18 & 20 for 3rd & 4th papers