The Karnataka state government has decided to promote all intermediate semester students pursuing degree and post-graduation courses including engineering, and diploma courses for the academic year 2019-20 without exams. The government has also decided that examinations for the final semester students would be conducted before the end of September 2020, according to the UGC guidelines, the Deputy Chief Minister’s office said in a statement.

The Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Higher Education Dr Ashwath Narayan CN said that the decision is for the academic year 2019-20 only. He added, “The Government mulled on conducting offline classes and examinations too, but owing to increase in the viral spread those thoughts have been dropped and it has been decided to pass and promote all intermediate semester students. Concerned Universities have been intimated to conduct examinations for all the final year/semester students.”

The decision to conduct the final semester exams in Karnataka was taken after the government after consulting educationists and university vice chancellors. Dr Narayan also explained, “Intermediate semester students will be assessed based on a comprehensive evaluation scheme with internal assessment marks and previous year’s/semester’s marks considered in a 50:50 ratio. For students in their first semester/year, the evaluation will be completely based on internal assessment marks.”

He further added, “If students feel to better their scores, provisions will be made for them to face examinations during the next semester and students who fail to succeed in the comprehensive evaluation process shall face examinations for respective subjects during the next semester. Backlog subjects will be allowed to carry over as well

He also said, “Academic evaluation forms the core of the higher education system and hence academic performance of students needs to be considered. Companies too will base their assessments on an individual student’s academic excellence and grades he/she secured. Thus, it would be pushing the students to danger in the future if examinations were not to be conducted now. In this regard, all universities have been informed to prepare themselves and make suitable arrangements for the conduct of final semester examinations.”

“Online classes for the academic year 2020-21 will begin from September 1 and offline classes from October 1. All universities and affiliated colleges have been directed to make suitable arrangements in that regard, already,” the Deputy CM said.

A helpline number – 080-22341394, has also been setup to solve queries of the students.

Source: NDTV