Exams Postponed Due to Incomplete Syllabi

DUTA announces a fresh round of strikes

Delhi University has decided to postpone the semester exams, which have now been scheduled between December

6 and December 14. The move comes after DUSU demanded that the semester exams be deferred as the syllabi had

not been completed due to non-cooperation by teachers opposing the semester system.

The new date sheet is likely to be announced by October end. As per the original academic calendar, the first

semester exams were scheduled between November 20 and November 29. Initially, the DU administration had

decided to postpone the dates by ten days but later, after consultations, it has decided to postpone the dates by

nearly two weeks.

”The new dates have been notified to give ample time to students and the teaching staff. The internal exams for

courses still run in the annual mode and will be conducted during the same period,” said a senior official from the

examination branch. Now the classes in the first semester will break up on December 3. The new semester will begin

from January 3.

DU vice-chancellor, Deepak Pental said: “We have decided to reschedule the calendar of exams in the interest of

the students… What is the point of conducting exams if the syllabi remained incomplete?” While, DUSU president,

Jitender Chaudhury, remarked: “DUSU welcomes the pro-student step the university is taking. We appeal to the

teachers to come to the classroom and complete the syllabi.”

However, DUTA has announced a fresh schedule of strikes to protest against the semester system and Prof. Deepak

Pental’s “illegal occupation” of VC’s office. At a General Body meeting, DUTA President Aditya Narayan Mishra said

that they would continue their protests, ‘hold dharnas in colleges on October 25-26,’ and ‘organize a march to the

HRD Ministry office on October 28.’

An agitated University administration reacted by sending circulars to all principals of colleges, asking them to

impress upon the teachers not to strike, in the interest of the students. The Registrar said in a circular issued to all

principals: “Teaching has already suffered in the current academic session due to frequent strikes/demonstrations,

and the University had to modify the academic calendar to make up for the loss of teaching.” The communiqué

reminded the principals that the administration’s earlier instructions of imposing the ”No work, No pay” rule are to be

enforced strictly.

DUB Correspondent