Final-year exams on course

Most spheres of life that had come to a halt during the nationwide lockdown have been subsequently unlocked gradually in a bid to bring normal life back on track. In the same spirit of moving on in the evolving situation, the decision to rev up the education sector is prudent as it is geared towards protecting the standard of education as well as the academic and career progression of students. First came the go-ahead to JEE and NEET, the gateways to engineering/medical institutes. Now, putting to rest the confusion on whether the university exams would be held or not, the Supreme Court has upheld the UGC’s July 6 direction making the conduct of final-year/ terminal semester exams mandatory by September-end. It also rules that the states cannot override the UGC, the apex regulatory body of education. Those contesting the decision need to ponder on the fact that a degree cannot be conferred on a candidate on the basis of internal assessment alone and without having him undergone a test, for it would lack credibility and jeopardise his future prospects.

Given the prevailing pandemic, the states have the leeway to tweak the dates and decide on the mode of the tests: online, offline or a blend of the two modes. In order to safeguard the interests of the students, the states/universities would be advised to get down to the process at once and make up for the lost time. Already, a section of pupils that has not yet taken the exams is at a disadvantageous position vis-à-vis those who have. While nearly 600 of the 800 universities in the country have either completed or are in the process of conducting exams, globally, too, most prestigious institutes, including the MIT, Cambridge and Oxford, have held the exams.

Additionally, the states and universities have the onerous task of ensuring the safety of the examiners and examinees. The exam centres will have to be well equipped with the tools to keep Covid at bay. Any laxity in providing enough masks, sanitisers, gloves or ensuring social distancing as well as safe transport facilities would compromise their health and could prove to be counterproductive.