Panel for nodal officer to help students from far-off places

Chandigarh, September 13

A standing committee constituted to conduct Panjab University’s blended (offline/online) mode examinations recommended that in view of anticipated technical difficulties for students in rural areas, the colleges may be requested to make necessary arrangements for offline exams on their campus after following the Covid guidelines.

The committee also decided that in case of online exams being held on Sunday, the sealed envelope of the answer sheet may be dispatched via post the next day. The USOL and private candidates should send their answer sheets (hard copies) to the DR Secrecy, Panjab University, immediately, while soft copies will be sent as per the instructions through ugexams@gmail.com or pgexams@gmail.com.

The university will reimburse the expenditure on conducting online examinations — Rs15 per student per paper and Rs15 per student for the evaluation of answer sheets — to the colleges/centres and departments.

The online meeting was held under the chairmanship of PU DUI Prof RK Singla, along with Prof Navdeep Goyal, Prof Sukhbir Kaur, Prof Parvinder Singh, Prof Sanjay Kaushik and Dr Muneshwar Joshi.

Keeping in consideration the request of students from far-off places, it was decided to appoint a nodal officer at the command centre. The officer, a senior professor or a senior official, will be appointed by the office of the Controller of Examination to felicitate or assist the smooth and uninterrupted conduct of exams.

“For students from far-flung areas, it has been decided to appoint a senior official at the command centre. The officer will help students in following the process of attempting the examinations. Nodal centres at such areas may not be a feasible idea. We have limited approach and should work accordingly. The person here will guide students in stress and will also help them to understand the exam attempting and submission process,” said Parvinder Singh, PU Controller Examination.

He also said to give some relief to the colleges, the committee had extended financial support for them. “It will surely help the colleges. The colleges will be paid Rs15 for downloading, scanning and other process and Rs15 for evaluation of answer sheets,” he added. — TNS