A mix-up, students get Punjabi paper as per NEP in PU exam

The 15-day-old story was repeated once again at the examination centres allocated for the conduct of semester examinations of Panjab University. The non-NEP students appearing for their General Punjabi exam were handed over a paper pertaining to the syllabus framed under the New Education Policy. Again, the university had to cancel the paper and announce a fresh date for the same.

“The emotional distress of the students and financial loss of the university, in both the cases collectively, at all the centres in affiliated colleges of Panjab University, is certainly immeasurable,” complained Dr Harjeet Singh, who is performing the duty of the Centre Superintendent at GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sudhar.

“The university seems to be utterly confused since it is committing mistake after mistake. It is after all the final semester examinations for which each and every appointed person should owe his or her responsibility to the fullest. Committing such blunders is not only tarnishing the reputation of the university but also causing a huge loss in terms of finances as well,” he added.

A college lecturer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated, “The students were handed over the answer sheets and question papers only to be returned and thrown into the dust bin. Imagine the loss and that too twice. When the mistake occurred once, the university should have been extra cautious about the remaining papers. But the same mistake and the same story! The breach of faith has now led many staff and students to comment that it is nothing new for Panjab University. Be prepared for the worst.”

“Who will pay for the wasted time and energy of the students who reached their centres only to return empty-handed after an hour with the assurance of a fresh date of examination? I am literally fed up. My father and mother are daily wagers and one out of the two has to take leave from work to drop and pick me up from my centre. It has been twice that my father could not get to work and it became difficult for us to arrange a second meal,” shared an examinee.

“As we distributed the question papers, the students began to whisper among each other. Asked about the reason, they said that the question paper was not as per the prescribed syllabus. It was after an hour that the university ordered the cancellation of the paper and announced a fresh date (June 14). With mercury soaring, the students were relieved with the thought of being free on June 11 but because of the blunder committed by the university, they had to drag now till June 14. Not only this, many had to cancel their bookings, trips and programmes,” shared a deputy superintendent of a university centre.