Vice-Chancellor Dr W N Gade clarifies that exams will be held as per timetable issued last week; non-teaching staff might substitute striking teachers as exam supervisors
The University of Pune (UoP) Vice-Chancellor Dr W N Gade made it clear that the varsity will hold the first year degree exams for BA, BCom and BSc from March 28, as per the timetable that was declared last week. The decision was taken despite the ongoing agitation called by the teachers, who would be boycotting the exams.
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“I have called principals from all the colleges affiliated with the varsity on Monday to finalise alternatives to conduct exams,” Gade said yesterday. When asked how was university planning to conduct exams in absence of teachers, Gade said varsity officials had completed all preparations related to exams.u00a0
“I appeal to all the students to prepare for the upcoming exams that will be held as per the timetable,” Gade said. As the discussion between the Chief Minister and representatives of the Maharashtra Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisation (MFUCTO) that were held last week failed to bear fruits, the UoP will now have to press its non-teaching staff for supervision duty.
Former vice-chancellor and senior senate member Arun Adsul said it was possible to conduct exams with the help of the non-teaching staff. “It is the responsibility of principals to ensure that exams are held as per the timetable. So if teachers are on strike, we have to seek cooperation of the non-teaching staff for supervision duty. We can work out this alternative,” Adsul said.u00a0
Senior senate member Prin Nandkumar Nikam said the varsity cannot afford to postpone the exams. “The UoP will be conducting 437 exams this year. So if the first-year exams, starting March 28, are rescheduled then the timetable for the following exams will be affected. So rescheduling exams is not an option,” Nikam said.u00a0