'Address academic crisis caused by NEP': Bangalore universities yet to announce exam schedule

NEW DELHI: While a large section of students are protesting for postponement of exams and to conduct tests online, some universities in Karnataka are yet to release exam schedules for the degree first year students.

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Bangalore district secretary of All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) Kalyan Kumar V said, “Some universities in the state have not released the degree first semester exam timetable, even though third week of April is over. Most of the universities, including the Bangalore University, have implemented NEP 2020 this academic year, and the exam preparation in accordance with this new policy - that is, the question paper, exam timetable, curriculum, etc., had to be finished by now.”

“But, the state government and the universities have failed to make these preparations. We should not forget that universities are unable to schedule their first semester exams at a time when more or less first-year degree courses are nearing completion,” he said.

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Moreover, the next academic year for degree courses will begin in June-July. “However, in the current situation, the students who are studying first year, have not yet completed their first semester even! How to run two different batches of first year at the same time? It's not scientific and quite unrealistic! What is the university thinking on solving this crisis? What is the government's action to address this issue?” he asked.

Saying that NEP is “a policy of privatization and communalization of education”, AIDSO warned the state government to take the views of state academics, faculties, parents and students.

“NEP 2020 was passed amidst widespread opposition. It is regrettable that the fate of thousands of students is now disturbed by this anti-education and anti-student attitude of the government and universities,” he added.

He further stated that the AIDSO and students of Karnataka demand that Bangalore University must release first semester degree exam timetable immediately and address this academic crisis caused by the sudden imposition of NEP 2020.