UGC has constituted two committiees to look into the predicaments of the academic loss and online education while the nation goes through lockdown to curb the spread of contagious COVID-19.
Haryana University Vice-Chancellor RC Kuhad led one of the committees which reviewed the methods of conducting online exams in varsities amid the lockdown and worked on an alternate academic calendar.
The other committee led by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) VC Nagaeshwar Rao suggested some measures to improve online education. Both the panels submitted their reports of Friday.
According to an official source, "One panel has recommended that the academic session be started from September than July. The second panel has suggested that universities should conduct online exams if they have the infrastructure and means or wait for the lockdown to get over and then decide a date for pen-and-paper examinations."
The two reports will now be studied and reviewed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development and official guidelines in this regard are expected to be notified by next week, said ministerial official.
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"It is not binding that all recommendations will be accepted. After deliberating on the feasibility issues and keeping the situation in mind, guidelines will be issued," an official said.
The panel also pointed out the issue in starting the new academic year, delay in conducting entrance examinations as well as the pending board exams.
"As of now the plan is to conduct entrance examinations like NEET and JEE in June. But it is extremely important to keep reviewing the Covid-19 situation," said official.
Since March 16, universities and schools across the country have been closed as per the directions of Centre govt as a precautionary measure to contain the infection. Later, PM Modi announced nation-wide lockdown till May 3.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has already declared that it will conduct pending board exams for only 29 subjects which are pertinent for promotion and undergraduate admissions.
As of now, Union Health Ministry has registered 24,506 positive cases of coronavirus in the country with 775 deaths.