Guidelines in the works to conduct final year exams

The University Grants Commission (UGC) did not heed to the request of the State to cancel the final year exams due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Due to this, the Higher Education Department has no option but to conduct the exams for about six lakh final year undergraduate and postgraduate students from engineering, arts, science, and polytechnic.

A senior official from the Higher Education Department said the proposed guidelines would be State-specific to conduct exams after taking all precautionary measures to ensure safety of students and officials.

“Authorities are charting out a plan to complete the final year semester exams by the end of September in offline mode,” he added.

The exams could be conducted in shift basis, he said, adding that the guidelines would ensure that students would be assigned to an examination hall of 400 sq ft. “Fresh hall tickets will be issued through online, and also directly at the institutions according to time slots to avoid crowding,” he said.

Institutions should ensure the distribution of face masks to the students, faculty and non-teaching staff during the examination, the official said.

“Guidelines are expected to mention that if a student is unable to appear in the examination, whatsoever the reasons may be, she/he may be given an opportunity to appear in special examinations that may be conducted by the colleges as and when feasible so that the student is not put to any inconvenience,” he added.

According to the official, a detailed exam timetable is being prepared, which would ensure that the students would have enough time between exams.