Student Safety Main Priority, But Final Year University Exams Also Important, Says UGC Secy

Despite the backlash the UGC secretary Rajnish Jain has said that it important to conduct the final year exams.

Representative Image (PTI)

New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has stated that on Wednesday that all states have to comply with the new guidelines regarding final year graduate and post-graduate exams. According to the UGC Secretary Prof Rajnish Jain, the safety of students is their prime concern but conducting final year exams is also important. ALSO READ| 'Leave Politics Out Of Education' Says Ramesh Pokhriyal After Questions Raised Over CBSE Syllabus Cut Jain told news agency ANI,” Conducting final year examinations for graduation or post-graduation courses is very important, and the safety of students is our prime concern.” He also reiterated the points in the guidelines which allow the university to use any mode of examination from online, offline, or a mix of both. He also said that all states will have to conduct the exams. “Universities and colleges can opt to conduct exams through online, offline, or blended mode. Guidelines for the conduct of exams have been issues on the basis of the Standard Operating Procedure suggested by the Health Ministry. All states should conduct exams for final year students,” said Jain.

Conducting final year examinations for graduation or post-graduation courses is very important, and the safety of students is our prime concern: University Grant Commission (UGC) Secretary Prof Rajnish Jain pic.twitter.com/WDCEcIpTLE

— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2020

There has been a backlash from students after the UGC announced its decision on the final year exams as many felt that it endanger their lives. According to the new guidelines Final Year examinations will be conducted by the universities/ institutions by September end and that the universities may choose any of mode – pen and paper, online, or a combination of both as per the feasibility and suitability. Some states like Punjab had cancelled university and college exams due to the rising cases of coronavirus. On Thursday the Punjab government also wrote to the centre expressing their inability to conduct the final year university exams. The state government has also highlighted the problems faced by many students especially those from weaker economic sections in accessing technology.