Exams a double whammy for Calicut varsity students

Students worried about pandemic-induced delay in conduct of exams

Students of the University of Calicut have a double whammy: on the one hand, their academic work is becoming more exam-oriented, and the pandemic has delayed the conduct of exams for a large section of them on the other. According to functionaries of Unaided Colleges Principals Council, each undergraduate student writes at least 34 exams in a year, including internal tests, in two semesters. In three years, they write 102 exams. Varughese Mathew, president of the council, pointed out that only 70 working days would be available in a semester. Teachers are forced to provide lessons in capsule format. Exam duty and answer script evaluation also take up the time of teachers. Earlier, he had said that students had to write only 15 exams in a year. Now, a majority of them do not get time for extra-curricular activities such as National Service Scheme events or National Cadet Corps camps. “The Minister for Higher Education had promised to set up three commissions to overhaul the higher education sector. They should study these issues,” he added.