'Will write to centre for cancellation of varsity exams': Punjab CM

Maintaining that it is t conducive to hold university and college exams due to coronavirus outbreak, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday said he will write to Centre to seek ir cancellation.

In an order on July 6, HRD Ministry h said exams will have to be conducted by September-end. decision by HRD Ministry came following a d from Ministry of Home Affairs.

Reacting to it, CM in a press release said coronavirus cases in Punjab are increasing every day and are projected to peak in September, refore, he was t "rey to risk lives of students" in se circumstances.

How can we take risk of exposing students by bringing m toger for exams at this juncture, he said in an official release while ding that he will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for revocation of July 6 order.

CM said exams cant be held online, which UGC h suggested as an option, since a large section of students in Punjab, especially in rural areas and among backward communities, do t have access to an affordable and uninterrupted Internet connectivity.

It is just t feasible to hold exams in current situation, Singh stressed at a meeting of Education Department to discuss issue.

Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi too agreed with CM's view that situation does t allow a safe conduct of exams.

CM said seven or states have alrey expressed concern on this count.

All Congress-ruled states have in fact decided to approach Union government in this regard, said CM.

CM also asked state Higher Education Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa to write to his counterpart in Union government on issue.

He urged vice-chancellors of various institutions to write to UGC for cancellation of exams in light of risk involved due to coronavirus crisis.

Education Secretary Rahul Bhandari told CM that he has alrey written to UGC chairman for reconsideration of guidelines issued on July 7 for conduct of terminal semester exams.

Keeping in view COVID-19 crisis and increasing number of patients on a daily basis, possibility of conducting exams seems to be remote, he wrote.

He also pointed out that most of university or college hostels h been evacuated and were being used as COVID care centres and regular train/bus services has t been operationalised so far.

Thus, making it n-feasible for students to travel for ir exams, he said.

Punjab government h earlier anunced cancellation of university and college examinations in state in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

It h anunced to award degrees/diplomas and promote students on basis of ir past performance.

Those seeking a chance to improve ir performance were allowed to take exams whenever situation improved.

Im Credits: PTI