Panjab University to launch email to assist pupils

Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 7

A few days after Panjab University (PU) announced conducting exams for final year/semester from September 17, the authorities have now decided to activate a 24×7 email ID, probably from tomorrow, for the convenience of students.

Swinging into action for conducting examination through a blended mode (online/offline), the authorities have decided to synchronise inputs of all stakeholders for the benefit of students.

“Conducting these examinations is a challenge due to the pandemic. Besides updating information on the university website, a 24×7 email is likely to be launched tomorrow for handling students’ queries. Covid cases are being reported from the PU. So, things are getting delayed. We want to provide students with all technical assistance in a few days,” said Parvinder Singh, Panjab University Controller of Examinations.

On students’ curiosity over re-appear examinations, reimbursement of entrance test fee and others, Singh said a committee had already been formed by the Panjab University Vice-Chancellor (VC).

“In first phase, we are conducting the final exams. The Panjab University VC has formed a committee and in the coming days, decisions on such issues will also be taken. The intermediate re-appear cases have already been promoted,” said Singh.

Sources said the university was yet to take a call on the students having re-appears in odd semesters. “The competent authorities have to take a call on this,” replied Singh.

A special monitoring coordination committee has been constituted to look after day-to-day issues, technical hurdles, administrative issues and logistics pertaining to the online exams. A nodal centre will be set up for all kinds of facilities related to online exams.

Testing underway

The email ID created to help students — onlinefinalexam.sep2020@pu.ac.in — is under testing. It will be made open to public after an approval from experts. On Monday, a detailed programme for college and datasheets was uploaded on the university website.

UGC on re-appear

As per the University Grants Commission guidelines issued in April, students of terminal semester/ final-year students with backlogs (exam re-appear) should compulsorily be evaluated by conducting examinations in the offline (pen and paper)/ online/ blended (online and offline) mode as per feasibility and suitability.