Pune: After the Maharashtra government announced that exams for only final year students will be held, Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) is formulating its action plan about the conduct of the examination. The action plan likely to be out by the first week of June.
Exams for only final year students
On Friday, State minister of higher and technical education Uday Samant declared that examination for only final year students will be conducted, while others are exempted due to the lockdown in the wake of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
He had also stated that as per the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines on examination and the academic calendar, it is likely to be held in July.
The SPPU authorities are now exploring ways to conduct the examination for final year students studying in over 700 affiliated colleges.
Document with a set of proposals
University pro-vice-chancellor NS Umarani stated that decision-makers in the varsity are looking at the various aspects related to conducting an examination and post-COVID sessions, especially during this health crisis.
“We are preparing a document with a set of proposals that states how can it be held for all four faculties including commerce, management, science and technology, humanities and interdisciplinary studies (IDS). About 90 per cent of the document is ready. Deans of all the faculty will review the document, and it will be passed through the board of examination and academic council. After this, the document will be released for public,” said Umarani.
Giving a few insights whose aspects are being considered by the authorities in the documents, Umarani said, “We are trying to figure out if the question papers can be set based on the portion completed in the course until March. As 60 per cent of the syllabus have been covered till mid-March when the colleges and university were functional.”
Format of the online and offline examination method
“We are also working on the format of the online and offline examination method. There have been a few exams in pharmacy, engineering, architecture faculty which have been held online, and whether it can be expanded further in other courses or more aspect can be explored in online examination method,” he added.
SPPU registrar Prafulla Pawar stated that infrastructure to conduct the examination also needs to be sorted.
“The action plan also includes data of the number of final year students appearing course-wise, among them how many have backlogs-- whether they have any backlogs in previous years or not. These need to be sorted. We have to consider the geographical spread of these students. How many students fall under a particular jurisdiction or nearby it? To understand the convenience of students and set up the examination centre,” he said.
Maintenance of social distancing norms
“Furthermore, we have to also devise a format according to the fact that how many students can be accommodated in one classroom maintaining social distancing which means facilitating alternate seating arrangement -- leaving a gap of one bench. Generally, in one classroom 30 students are seated-- now with one student on one bench, only 15 students can be seated in one classroom. This will require double infrastructure and manpower and other requirements. We have to also see if a particular college doesn’t have so much space, then if it can be held in two shifts there,” added Pawar.
Over the next 15 days, the action plan will be discussed, and a concrete format of the examination should be ready. The examination schedule, along with all the details of its conduct will be released by the first week of June, Umarani told Sakal Times.
Refund of exam fees?
Speaking about whether examination fees of those students who will not be appearing for examination this year, will be refunded or carried forward, Pawar stated that an appropriate decision related to examination fee will be deliberated and would be soon taken by the university board of examination and evaluation.
Planner for post-COVID conducts
The university has also been working on planners and execution of academic conduct after the higher educational institutes resume operations fully.
“The document states about post-COVID-19 precautions like using masks, sanitisers and maintaining social distancing which should be undertaken by university departments and colleges after it starts functioning next year. The document is an advisory of how to conduct regular sessions or work on campus from the entrance to classrooms, libraries, laboratories and even playground-- sports and games. Some health infrastructure needs to be built on campus,” he said.
A document is also being prepared, which will have information and precautionary measures related to this virus.
Umarani also spoke about considering curtailing Diwali vacations or winter vacations to complete the syllabus for the next academic session.