The Pune University has published a revised schedule for the practical and oral exams for second-and third-year science, commerce and computer application degree courses. As per the new circular issued, the exams are scheduled to be held between April 25 and May 30. The new agenda issued by the university's controller of exams. Earlier, the practical exams for all the three years of arts, science, commerce and computer application courses were scheduled to commence in phases from March 11.
As per sources, the exams were postponed due to the state-wide boycott of exam work by university and college teachers since February 4. Moreover, the teachers are demanding, among other things, that Sixth Pay Commission arrears be released and services of non-NET/SET qualified teachers appointed between September 19, 1991, and April 3, 2000, be regularized.
Sources have informed that none of the coordinators for the practical exams reported for the meetings conducted for the fixing of exam dates and other relevant activities. Therefore, the university's board of examination, which met on March 7, had decided to conduct the practical exams after the theory papers.
As per the revised schedule, the third-year science degree course practical exams will now be held from April 26 to May 10, 2013, while those for the second-year science course will be held from May 16 to May 30, 2013.
Generally, practical exams for the third-year science, arts and commerce courses are given the top-most preference in the university’s exam schedule because of the fact that students have to move to postgraduate courses, as the admissions to many of them are based on entrance tests.
Other than the science stream, practical exams are also conducted for subjects in the arts and commerce streams such as psychology, geography, mathematics and economics under the arts stream and mathematics, geography and computer applications under the commerce stream. As per the University circulars, the practical exams for commerce subjects will be conducted between April 25 and May 15, 2013, while, those for the computer application (BCA) and business administration (BBA) courses will be conducted between April 27 and May 10, 2013.
Moreover, the University has entrusted the task of smooth conduct of practical exams on the principals of the respective colleges. Principals have been authorized to appoint any approved teacher from their neighborhood college as an external examiner if the regular appointee fails to report for the work. External examiners are also taking part in the teachers' protest.
In the meantime, a representative of the Maharashtra federation of university and college teachers' organization (Mfucto), which is leading the boycott of exam work in the state, has said that the complaints are unlikely to be withdrawn till the government provides definite written assertion on the demands discussed during their meeting with higher and technical education minister Rajesh Tope on April 19, 2013.
Moreover, the Bombay high court has directed the state government to negotiate a settlement with the Mfucto before April 30, 2013. The next date of the hearing of a written petition filed by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad against the teachers' boycott.
The Schedule
Third-year BSc: April 26 to May 10
Second-year BSc: May 16 to May 30
SY and TY BCom: April 25 to May 15
SY and TY BSc biotechnology, vocational/restructure and computer practicals schedule to be decided by coordinators concerned. Principals authorized to hire approved teachers from neighborhood colleges as external examiners in case regular appointees fail to report for work.
