Mumbai: Some students and parents celebrated and cheered while others expressed concern over the academic loss as the Maharashtra government Friday announced to promote the 1st and 2nd year students in all state universities without conducting their exams.
"This is a good decision. It will at least reduce the burden people are already experiencing because of the Coronavirus lockdown", the mother of a first year Mumbai University student told ummid.com.
Echoing similar views, a 2nd year student said they were under a huge stress because of the delay in a decision on the pending exams as Covid-19 situation in the City and the state was worsening with every passing day.
"In the absence of any clarity regarding the university exam date, it was just impossible to concentrate on studies amidst the worsening health condition. It feels bad to be promoted without giving exams. But, the decision has relieved us", he said.
Not all students and parents however are thinking on the same lines. A number of students and parents ummid.com spoke to after the Maharashtra government announced cancellation of 1st and 2nd year university exams expressed dismay.
They said the decision will have a huge impact on the academic career of students.
"The first year is about basics and foundation. The first year syllabus works as backbone for the consequent years. Promoting students without exams is bound to have negative impact on the students' career unless they work hard to cover the losses", a Pune University student said.
Maharashtra’s Minister for Higher and Technical Education, Uday Samant on Friday announced that all final year students will appear for exams between July 1 and 30 whereas all other year students will be promoted to the next academic year.
Some others feel that the universities should have tried online mode of exams so as to encourage the students to study during the lockdown.
"We were already in the midst of second semester exams when the lockdown was announced. Instead of cancelling the exams, universities should have opted other options like conducting Online exams to judge the academic level of students", a Pune University teacher said.
"True there are difficulties and problems in availability of internet. But, today everyone is having their phones connected with internet. An app based online exam could have been given a try", he added.
The students are also worried about the backlog papers as there has no clarification been made regarding this either by the Maharashtra government or universities.
"The guidelines said the exams for such students will be held within 120 days after the lockdown is lifted. But, how and when, it is not clear, especially when we still don't know how long lockdown will be in place", a teacher said.
"Suffice to say the entire 2020-21 academic year is disturbed", he added.
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