Govt scraps 1st, 2nd year college semester exams

Cancellation of exams will be applicable for first and second year undergraduate (UG) students of Arts, Science, Vocational, and Polytechnic colleges. Similarly, first, second and third year UG students of engineering colleges will not have semester exams. Likewise, first-year postgraduate students and first- and second-year students of Master in Computer Applications (MCA) will not have semester exams.

However, a senior Higher Education Department official told DT Next that exams will be conducted for final year students of all streams after normalcy was restored. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said on Thursday that the decision came against the backdrop of recommendation from the expert committee, which was constituted to look into conducting exams for college students.

The government’s decision was widely hailed by academicians and educationists, who asserted that this move will not affect the students. “It is a very good decision and come as a relief to the students as well as faculties of colleges,” Association of University Teachers (AUT) president N Pasupathy said. “Even if the final exams were not conducted, marks could be easily calculated from the previous semester tests,” he said, adding, “Cancellation of exams will not affect the students since the portions of final semester will be less.”

Echoing similar views, Joint Action Council of College Teachers, Tamil Nadu (JAC) Convenor R Dhamothran also welcomed the government decision.