Chandigarh, July 8, 2020:Sticking to its stand on the cancellation of university and college exams , government of Punjab has written to the Centre to reconsider the holding of examinations in light of the COVID-19 pandemic after University Grants Commission (UGC) issued revised guidelines regarding the conduct of terminal semesters and final year exams by universities and educational institutions and suggested that exams may be completed by September in online or offline modes.
Punjab says due increasing number of cases on daily basis, possibility of conducting exams is remote and not feasible and most of the universities/colleges’ hostels have been evacuated and are being used as Covid care centres. Train/bus services have not become operational so far, it added.
The state government said that issues like Punjab having highest percentage of scheduled caste population in the country, clear-cut digital divide between urban and rural students, poor internet connectivity, low smartphone ownership and lack of computer facilities do not allow conducting of online exams for such a large population of students.
It said that most of the students studying in government colleges and universities will have difficulty in accessing IT-enabled infrastructure to appear for the exams. It added that the Punjab government has decided to award degrees/diplomas on basis of performance of past semesters.
“In case the students want to improve their performance, exams will be held when the situation is conducive. Students of intermediate classes will be promoted to higher classes on basis of their average marks provided they have marks above minimum pass marks,” said the government in the letter written to the Centre.