Abha Goradia

Part of the exam was unproctored, students were asked to abide by honour code

As per state School Education Department guidelines, 50 per cent students have been allowed to attend a class at one time.

Vishwanath Mujumale (58), a resident of Kondanpur village, located in Pune district's Haveli taluka, recalls fondly how the PM had complimented him for getting his sanad (deed) framed just in time for the scheme’s virtual launch on October 11.

“We are yet to have clarity on the exact number of districts that will allow reopening of schools, but we know rural areas will see a good number re-opening on Monday. Urban areas may take some time,” an official of the state School Education Department.

The university said that all practical exams, projects and viva voce will be conducted by colleges in the online mode from December 10.

Until Thursday, Matungabased SIES School has received signed consent letters from the parents of only two of the 250 students in Class IX.

For students from classes IX to XII, schools and junior colleges will reopen from November 23.

When contacted, Joint Municipal Commissioner Ashutosh Salil said, “I have visited some of the schools where these kids are being trained. The kids are so passionate about the sport and it has raised their confidence to another level..."

People can be seen lining up outside shops, ignoring advisories on social distancing, eager to land the best bargains. However, according to shopkeepers, the proportion of customers has dwindled and their earnings have reduced by 70 percent.

AI proctoring would enable automatic identification of cases of cheating during exams.

Students of classes IX to XII will attend school on alternate days to ensure a 50 per cent attendance ratio, according to the guidelines. A school day will span not more than four hours and no lunch break will be given to students.

As per the November semester examination guidelines released by NMIMS' Anil Surendra Modi School of Commerce, all students have been asked to ensure stable Internet connectivity of at least 2 mbps speed.

Student organisation Prahar has alleged that the directorate of higher education had unlawfully appointed the five professors and associate professors as in charge joint directors while they were still serving a two-year probation period.

“Exams started on October 12. We couldn't find (cellphone) range in our village. So, we walked for nearly three hours to the hillock with camping equipment. We built a temporary shelter using tin sheets, cooked our food and went into the jungle to bathe."

According to data shared by the state higher and technical education department, nearly 45,500 or 65 percent of the total students at Aurangabad-based Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University appeared for their exams offline.

The robot uses sensors and artificial intelligence to detect human activity. Also, the team has used anti-collagen sensors to prevent the robot from suffering any damage if it meets obstacles while moving around in an area.

The vacation has been cut short from the point of view of completing the syllabus in the remaining academic year, which has already suffered a delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the notification said.

The committee has also been asked to reflect on providing employment-oriented education and the subjects to be taught, alongside deliberating on the eligibility criteria for teachers.

The first week of instruction will be a "zero" week, where students will be guided on how to attend lectures and exams online, said director Dr Subhasis Chaudhuri in a post on social media.

Orientation on November 11, instruction to begin on November 16.

MU spokesperson Vinod Malale said, “Until last year, the pass percentages ranged from 60-70 per cent for most courses. There has been a significant spike in the performance of students this year.”

From ear cleaners to roadside bone-setters, to barbers who used to operate from under the shade of trees — the pandemic has hit the hardest businesses that operate beyond government oversight and without labour protection.

"Until junior colleges begin, the school education department will host online lectures for arts, science and commerce students of first-year junior colleges in English and Marathi mediums," said Dinkar Patil, director, Maharashtra State Council for Educational Research and Training.

Parents of students who have opted for state’s junior colleges are worried their children will lose out to peers from other boards in competitive and board exams.