Academic session for freshers in universities from November 1, vacations to be curtailed: UGC

The delayed educational session for freshers in universities and faculties will start from November 1, and the winter break this yr, the summer time trip in 2021 and different holidays would be curtailed to compensate for the time misplaced, in accordance to the University Grants Commission. The tips by an count on committee, arrange for revising the tutorial calendar in view of COVID-19 pandemic, have been accepted by the UGC and accordingly universities have been really helpful a six-day educating studying schedule each week.

“In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission has accepted the Report of the Committee and approved the UGC Guidelines on Academic Calendar for the First Year of Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate Students of the Universities for the Session 2020-21,” Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ tweeted. The UGC had in April launched an alternate educational calendar for faculties to reopen, with tips on exams, mode of examine and the schedule. At that point, the plan was to reopen faculties from September, however it couldn’t materialise due to a unbroken surge in coronavirus circumstances.

As per the revised calendar, the admission course of for first yr college students wants to be accomplished by October 31 and courses for the primary semester ought to start by November 1. In order to compensate for the lack of educational time, the UGC has requested faculties to educate six days every week and shorten the winter break this yr and the summer time break subsequent yr.

“The universities are requested to compensate the delay in the start of academic session in the subsequent years by curtailing the breaks/vacations so that this batch of students would get their final results for award of degree timely,” the rules mentioned.

“The start of first year of academic session 2020-2021 is delayed due to the circumstances beyond control but efforts be made to compensate the loss of this period by curtailing the breaks (Summer, Winter etc). This would ensure that these students would timely complete their 3 year UG/ PG programme,” the UGC tips mentioned.

“All the universities may follow a 6-day week pattern for the academic session 2020-21 and 2021-2022 to compensate the loss for this batch of students,” it added.

Universities and colleges throughout the nation have been closed since March 16 when the Centre introduced a national classroom shutdown as a part of measures to comprise the unfold of the novel coronavirus.