TN Govt cancels semester exams for UG courses

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has announced the cancellation of semester exams for the first and second year of UG courses of arts and science colleges in the State.

"Though we had scheduled their semester examinations in April this year, it could not be conducted as scheduled because of Covid-19 pandemic", he added. The students would be marked on the basis of the University Grants Commission, UGC and All India Council for Technical Education, AICTE guidelines.

This decision was taken following the recommendations from a high-level committee, formed by the government of Tamilnadu.

Arts and Science stream exams stand cancelled for 1st and 2nd year UG students and 1st year PG students across all the colleges in the state. Engineering stream students have their exams called off too. No student of 1st to 3rd year in UG courses would be appearing for the intermediate semesters. The rule is however only applicable for the first year PG students on engineering colleges.

For various polytechnic colleges, the exams have been called off for all the1st and 2nd-year students in the state. These students would be considered passed without exams. As for the batches in MCA degree colleges, the1st and 2nd-year students do not have to attend their exams.

The UG semester exams for the first three years of engineering colleges and first-year PG semester exams for engineering college are also cancelled.

It may be noted that there have been concerns from students community about appearing for the semester exams, owing to the pandemic situation. Various political leaders also raised their voices to cancel the exams.

Accordingly, Palanisami also urged the Central Government, to give the liberty to states to work out its own assessment methods without compromising on the quality and academic credibility.

“In order to ensure career opportunities, future prospects and to simultaneously safeguard the principles of health, safety, fair and equal opportunity for students, the States may be given the freedom to work out its own assessment methods, without compromising on the quality and academic credibility”, he said.

Pointing out that the Covid-19 pandemic was showing a surge in various parts of the country, including Tamilnadu, EPS said his government has been taking all required measures to contain the spread of disease, as well as to provide comprehensive treatment to the infected people.

"Through the efforts of the Government and adding to the progressive policies of the State Government, Tamilnadu has the highest Gross Enrollment Ratio of 49 per cent among the States, resulting in large number of students studying in various Universities, Colleges and Polytechnics".

Recently the University Grants Commission, UGC had revised its guidelines for the exams to be conducted by the varieties across India. It had given the varieties a free hand in deciding about the process of awarding marks to the students enrolled in various courses.

AICTE had recommended all its affiliated colleges to follow the UGC guidelines. The colleges would be providing the complete information on the method they are about to follow to award marks to the students individually soon.