Colleges to do FY, SY work, letting MU focus on TY, PG

Mumbai: Soon, colleges will conduct first-year and second-year exams instead of Mumbai University (MU) so that the varsity can concentrate on final-year and post-graduate exams and declare results on time sans hurdles. On Friday, state education minister Vinod Tawde approved the request put forth by teachers and the college fraternity. For the past five years, the MU has been managing the syllabus, exam timetable, and conduct of first-year and second-year exams. Mr Tawde said he would have a word with university officials to discuss the request put forth by the fraternity.

For the past five to six years, apart from deciding the syllabus, exam papers and exam timetable for under-graduate and post-graduate students, the MU has also been in charge of designing the curriculum and question papers and conducting exams for final-year and post-graduate students. In addition, the university has been looking into declaration of results and distribution of mark sheets of students. Meanwhile, the colleges have only been entrusted with the job of internal exams including vivas, projects, assignments, attendance and submission of marks to the varsity at the end of every semester. Now, colleges and teachers have requested Mr Tawde to let them manage chores related to first-year and second-year degree students so that the MU can focus on final-year and PG students.

Anil Deshmukh, president, MJCTU, said, “Final-year and PG exams are crucial. These marks are important for students’ future academics and jobs. Any mistake during these can affect their career. Hence, we feel that the MU should put its entire focus on these exams and let the colleges manage FY and SY exams and other things.”

Mr Deshmukh expressed the view that teachers who have to otherwise work during vacations will get a break with colleges taking up this responsibility. “Once we get the freedom to make timetables of our own, we will schedule in such a way that the exams do not clash with final-year students. This will give breathing space to teachers,” he said.