Calcutta University will hold the exams of the ongoing odd-semester (I-III-V) at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels over digital platforms even though classes are being held in-person from mid-November.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the university’s syndicate on Wednesday.
CU vice-chancellor Sonali Chakravarti Banerjee said: “The examination will be held over digital platforms as has been done previously, considering the health issue. A new variant of the coronavirus has emerged. It won’t be advisable to hold the exams offline because we don’t want to endanger the health of the teachers and students.”
Only third-semester PG students are coming to the CU campuses for in-person classes from November 16.
Affiliating colleges have been holding offline classes for the UG third and fifth semesters.
Many principals sought to know from the university whether they could hold the semester exams offline as classes are now being held on campus after a 20-month gap.
“Besides, the offline exams held under invigilation ensures transparency,” said a principal.
Autonomous colleges under Ramakrishna Mission will hold the exams offline.
Chakravarti Banerjee said the exams of the third and fifth semesters at UG-level and third semester at the PG-level will be held in January.
“The first semester examination for both undergraduate and postgraduate, will be held in February,” she said.
Sankhayan Chowdhury, the general secretary of the Calcutta University Teachers’ Association, said: “The decision on the mode of examination should have been taken after holding a wider consultation with the teachers.”
The university will send soft copies of the question papers to the affiliated colleges on the exam days. The university will also upload questions on its website.
Once students get the question paper, they can write the answers on their computer or smartphone and mail them back to a designated address.
Students, after downloading the question papers, can also write the answers in the pen-and-paper mode, scan the answer sheets and mail them in the form of a PDF file.