DU, JNU Plan Extra Classes in Evening, Weekends, Cut Holidays As CUET-UG Result Delayed

New Delhi: Universities in the national capital, including Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Delhi University (DU), are adjusting their academic schedules due to the delay of around three weeks in the declaration of CUET-UG results. The uncertainty surrounding the announcement of Common University Entrance Test (CUET) results has led to plans for weekend classes and shorter winter breaks to accommodate the lost time. CUET scores are used to determine eligibility for admissions to the universities like DU, JNU, Ambedkar University and many more. 

A senior official at JNU expressed concerns that the delay in result declaration would impact the university’s plan to implement a unified academic calendar for all student batches. To make up for lost time, JNU may conduct extra classes on Saturdays and shorten the winter break.

"Instead of five days a week, we may have to teach six days a week and utilize Saturdays to cover the syllabus. We will also consider shortening the winter break if needed," the official said. "JNU had planned to release a unified academic calendar for all batches this year to bring symmetry to the admission process. This practice was discontinued due to the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Things will become clear once the result dates are announced."

The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the entrance exam, announced a re-test for over 1,000 CUET UG candidates on July 19. This decision followed complaints from candidates about issues such as time loss due to the distribution of incorrect question papers. However, the NTA has not yet clarified when the results will be declared, which were originally scheduled to be released on June 30. The final answer key for the undergraduate admission test has also not been published.

Ambedkar University is also planning to hold extra classes in the evenings and on weekends and to reduce the number of holidays if necessary, according to Vice-Chancellor Anu Singh Lather.

"There would be a delay of about two weeks or so due to the re-test. I don’t think that is much time and can easily be compensated with some extra classes," Lather said. "Originally, the session was supposed to start on August 1 for first-year students, but if the results are not announced in the next two weeks, we will hold extra classes for them in the evening after regular classes on weekends and also reduce the number of holidays to cover up."

At Delhi University, officials said the delay would cause the academic calendar for first-year students to end later than scheduled. However, the schedule for other students will remain unchanged, with classes starting on August 1. DU's registrar, Vikas Gupta, mentioned that the university had already notified its academic calendar for second-year students with a shortened winter break of four days, though no reason was provided for the shorter break.

Meanwhile, an official at IP University stated that the delay in CUET results would not significantly affect its admission process. IP University takes admissions through CUET in its final stages and also conducts its own in-house entrance examinations.

"We take admissions through national level entrance tests for professional courses. We also have our own in-house entrance examination," said Mahesh Verma, Vice-Chancellor of IP University. "We hope the results will be out by the time we need them."

(With PTI inputs)