UGC likely to Cancel Final Semester Exams as HRD Minister asks Commission to 'Revisit' Guidelines

UGC Guidelines for Semester Exams: The HRD Minister, on 24th June 2020 asked the University Grants Commission to revise its guidelines for University intermediate and final semester exams as well as the academic calendar released in April. The Minister has urged that the revised guidelines should have the health and safety of the teachers at its foundation. The same was shared by the Minister on his official twitter handle. Also as per the latest update, UGC is all set to revise the examination guidelines and likely cancel Final Semester Exams to be held by Colleges and Universities amid the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. The change in the University Grants Commission’s stand with regards to holding University Exams, especially for Final Semester Students, comes following concerns raised by several educational institutions, students and parents about their safety and highlighting the risk of contracting Coronavirus during examinations. A final decision in this regard, however, is awaited. 

UGC panel recommends Cancellation of Exams

Furthermore, a panel appointed by the University regulator has also recommended cancellation of all examinations, be it for terminal semester students or for final year students in the light of increasing Coronavirus cases in the country. The committee headed by Haryana University vice-chancellor R C Kuhad, was appointed earlier in the month to identify ways of assessing university students in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. This committee has recommended that instead of holding examinations, students should be evaluated on the basis of their previous semester examinations and internal assessments instead.

Exams May put Lakhs of Students at Risk

The committee in its report has said that as per the UGC guidelines issued in April, all higher education institutions, including colleges and universities, were to hold the Final Semester Exams for their students in the month of July 2020. However, looking at the current situation, holding exams would put lakhs of students at risk of exposure and may lead to an even larger community level outbreak. Looking at this, the commission has recommended cancellation of all exams and instead adopt alternative evaluation method for declaration of semester results.

UGC likely to issue revised guidelines soon

As per sources close to the UGC, the findings of the committee have been shared with the HRD Ministry. Currently, officials from the commission and HRD Ministry are deliberating the future course of action as the decision may have a large impact for students’ community across the country. To evolve a unified approach to the problem, UGC has also roped in other central education regulators including AICTE, Bar Council of India, Architecture Council, Pharmacy council to arrive at a consensus and a pan-India level policy for pending college and university exams. The officials are currently working out the details of the revised guidelines which are likely to be announced soon.