Meghalaya Government to Write to UGC to Extend Final-Year Exam Deadline

The government of Meghalaya will write to the University Grants Commission (UGC) urging it to extend the time period for holding the final-year examinations for undergraduate and postgraduate students from September to October. The decision was made at a review meeting with the state Chief Minister at the helm.

“There is anxiety among the students as many of them are not mentally prepared. A month’s delay in holding the examinations will help them to score better,” the Chief Minister said.

The state government wants the final-year examinations to be held on 7, 9, 12, 14 and 16 October. The results should be declared by 31 October.

The state government made the decision after severe opposition against the move of North Eastern Hill University to hold the examinations in September.

Also Read: UGC Details Exam Guidelines for 2020 Amid COVID-19 in India

More than 24,000 students are eligible to take the final-year examinations. Of these, 2,000 are postgraduate students.

The state government has also asked the deputy commissioners of all 11 districts of the state to vacate school premises that are currently operating as quarantine centres for coronavirus by 15 September.

On Saturday, the Union Home Ministry had issued guidelines for Unlock 4, according to which students of classes 9 to 12 could visit their schools voluntarily after 21 September, provided they were in areas outside containment zones.

On 28 August, the Supreme Court had ruled that universities and colleges could not promote final-year students on the basis of internal assessment or other criteria; they would have to hold examinations for them. However, the Court said that state and union territories could approach the UGC to extend the deadline for holding examinations.