UG, PG exams most likely to be held in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Final semester/year examinations of undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses will most likely be held in the state. Higher education minister Arun Kumar Sahoo said this after discussing with all vice-chancellors (VC) of state public universities here on Saturday.
“Examinations will most likely be held this year. It should be conducted. In view of this, I request everybody to continue the teaching learning process as usual,” said the minister in the VC meet.
Sahoo said the VCs will thoroughly discuss with principals and faculty members of the degree colleges and students of the higher educational institutions about holding the examinations this year.“Final decision will be taken on this matter on June 18 after the VCs come up with solutions after holding discussion with the students, faculty and heads of the higher educational institutions,” he added.
He said the VCs have requested him to give them some time to make a final decision on this matter. The VCs will discuss with students of both urban and rural areas about conducting the UG and PG examinations, he added.
“Last year, a countrywide lockdown was imposed from March 25, but this year Odisha has imposed lockdown since May 5 to break the chain of Covid infection. That’s why the examination and other processes have been delayed. Though it is delayed, most of the institutions have agreed that they will complete the courses by June end,” said Sahoo.
At the VC meet, the minister discussed the process of conducting UG and PG examinations last year amid pandemic. He has also spoken about how the state government had cancelled the UG and PG final semester/year examinations last year and then changed its decision later because of the direction issued by the Supreme Court for organising the examinations.
The minister said online classes are being underway in the degree colleges and universities of the higher education department. “Our department has issued directions to these institutions to continue online classes. Continuing the teaching learning process is important,” he added.
Rama Devi Women’s University vice-chancellor Aparajita Chowdhury said she and other VCs are interested in conducting the final year/semester examinations. “We will inform the minister on June 18 about our final decisions regarding the examinations,” she added.
The minister has also discussed in the VC meet about online classes, mode of UG and PG examinations (if it happens), institutional development plan, common entrance test for PG admission, NAAC accreditation, research works, projects and other issues related to universities.