UoP may cancel first-term exams

Generally,the colleges start on July 1. But this time,all the government-aided arts,science and commerce colleges affiliated to the varsity have been shut from July 15 due to the teachers’ strike and literally no teaching has been done in colleges,except introduction to some subjects. Now,the colleges will be officially closed till August 18 owing to the district collector’s decision. That means the first one and month has gone by without any teaching. And if the strike continues,the situation will be bad for academics.

The officer said the varsity might even think of cancelling Diwali vacations. “But even that will not be sufficient to complete the first-term syllabus and thus,the varsity may rethink on conducting the first-term exams,” he said.

When contacted,acting vice chancellor of the UoP Arun Adsool said the varsity would talk to the college teachers about completing the first-term syllabus.

“Academics has been hampered a lot. But I am hopeful that the college teachers will withdraw their strike and teach students by doing overtime,” he said.

Adsool also confirmed that the varsity would curtail the Diwali vacation. “Instead of 20 days,we will give only 13 days off during Diwali. However,the most important part is how to start the teaching-learning process in colleges. We are optimistic about conducting the first-term exams as per the schedule but it may get rescheduled depending on the situation. The exams may be conducted after Diwali vacation,” he said. Adsool clarified that there was no issue of completing syllabus in engineering,medical and B.Ed colleges,as the teachers of these colleges had not participated in strike.

The education board of the Pune Municipal Corporation has come up with a revised order for closure of the schools and colleges in the city.

“The schools and colleges in the city will be closed till August 18 to control the spread of swine flu,” it says. Most of the schools and colleges are under the impression that they can start functioning from Monday,August 17,but as per the directive,the educational institutions will reopen on August 19.