HRD Minister asks UGC to revisit college exam guidelines; says 'focus on health & safety'

Union Cabinet Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD) Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Wednesday asked University Grants Commission (UGC) to revisit its guidelines on conducting exams for next academic calendar amid rising Coronavirus cases.

'I have advised UGC to revisit guidelines...'

" foundation of revised guidelines shall be health and safety of students, teachers and staff," HRD minister tweeted.

tably, final decision on cancellation of exams is yet to be taken by authorities. Union Minister posted mess on Twitter a day after Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) told Supreme Court that deliberations for cancelling remaining Class 10 and 12 board exams are at an advanced st and a final decision in this regard was likely to get finalised by Wednesday.

top court had last week asked CBSE to consider cancelling exams in response to a petition from a group of parents. exams are scheduled from July 1 to 15.

UGC forms two committees to deliberate on issues

Universities and schools across country have been closed since March 16 when central government anunced a countrywide classroom shutdown as one of measures to contain COVID-19 outbreak. A nationwide lockdown was anunced on March 24, which came into effect next day. While government has eased several restrictions, schools and colleges continue to remain closed. 

UGC had in April formed two committees to deliberate on issues arising due to lockdown to avoid academic loss and take appropriate measures for future of students. 

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One of committees, led by Haryana University Vice-Chancellor R C Kuhad, was tasked with looking into ways of conducting exams in universities amid lockdown and work on an alternate academic calendar. second committee, formed to suggest measures to improve online education, was led by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGU) Vice-Chancellor Nshwar Rao.

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Based on recommendations of two panels, HRD Ministry had on April 29 anunced guidelines recommending exams for final semester students be conducted in July.  commission had said that universities may decide wher to conduct exams online or offline keeping in view support system available with m and ensuring a fair opportunity to all students. 

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UGC had recommended that intermediate semester students may eir be evaluated on basis of internal assessment or in states where COVID-19 situation has rmalised, exams be conducted in July only.  commission had also said new academic session for freshers may begin in universities from September and for already enrolled students in August while admission process may begin in universities from August 1.

However, due to spike in coronavirus cases, various states recommended cancellation of final year exams. A few states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have already anunced ir plans in this regard.

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(With ncy inputs)