Growing frustration over persistent delays in conducting examinations and declaring results took center stage at a recent Senate meeting of Nagpur University. Members voiced strong concerns, pressing the administration to adhere to strict timelines to alleviate the significant distress and uncertainty plaguing students.
Senate Members Decry Lack of Planning
The core of the issue lies in the university's execution this year. Examinations have so far been conducted only for students who had failed in previous attempts. Schedules for regular students were announced much later than expected, leading to widespread inconvenience and mounting anxiety across the student community.
Raising the matter forcefully, Senate member Sunil Fudke questioned the rationale behind the repeated postponement of exams. His concerns found unanimous support, with several other members criticising the administration for apparent lapses in planning and foresight. They collectively demanded that examination dates for regular students be announced without any further delay.
Call for a Fixed Academic Calendar
A key solution proposed during the heated discussion was the implementation of a fixed, pre-declared examination timetable for each academic year. The Senate argued that this measure is crucial to ensure predictability, allowing students to plan their studies effectively and safeguarding their academic progress from unnecessary disruptions.
In response to the criticism, Vice-Chancellor Manali Kshirsagar addressed the Senate. She assured the members that the university administration has taken note of the grievances and will implement a pre-declared examination timetable starting from the next academic year.
Dispute Over Delayed Duplicate Documents
The meeting also delved into related administrative problems within the examination section, particularly concerning inordinate delays in issuing duplicate mark sheets, degrees, and certificates. University officials presented data, claiming that out of 705 applications received for such documents, all but 19 had been processed and cleared.
However, these figures were directly challenged by Senate member Roshni Khelkar, who called them misleading. Citing concrete data collected from facilitation centres, she provided a starkly different picture:
- At least 65 students in Wardha have been waiting for over three months.
- 45 students in Gondia are facing similar delays.
- 40 students in Bhandara are awaiting their documents.
- 2 students in Katol are also affected by the backlog.
Taking serious note of this significant discrepancy, Vice-Chancellor Kshirsagar gave another assurance. She stated that the matter would be thoroughly reviewed and concrete steps would be taken to resolve the issue promptly, aiming to reduce the hardship faced by students dependent on these crucial documents for higher education or employment opportunities.
