Governor Lalji Tandon said that a new period of Atma Nirbhar (Self-reliant) Autonomous university is beginning in the State. The responsibility to make system strong and successful lies with the Vice Chancellors. Top priority should be given to hold disciplined, obstacle free and fear free examination as per the guidelines.
Tandon was addressing the review meeting of the Vice Chancellors held at Raj Bhavan. The Principal Secretary Higher Education Anupam Rajan, Secretary to Governor Manohar Dubey and Commissioner Higher Education Mukesh Shukla were also present at the meeting. The Governor said that it is a difficult time of Covid-19 challenge. But at the same time it is an opportunity for building a new India. A new atmosphere of Swadeshi innovations is in the making. Universities must render their cooperation in research, analysis and new experiments.
Universities should come forward to overcome the fear of Covid-19. Encourage the consciousness of Swadeshi and Atmanirbharta. Cooperate in setting up new startups.
Ample fund is available for these activities. He further stated that in this period of crisis, new positivity and energy has infused in the universities. All deserve congratulations for preparing integrated university management software and integrated digital platforms.
Work done by the universities for generating public awareness related to Covid-19 through messages is commendable. Works carried out by the universities of the state will serve as guidelines in the field of higher education of the country and the state.
Principal Secretary Higher Education Anupam Rajan said that special attention should be paid to sanitisation and physical distancing while making examination arrangements. In order to ensure physical distancing, number of examination centers should be increased for conducting examinations. For holding examinations, a standard operating procedure should be prepared of all arrangements concerning arrival and return from centers after examinations.
For holding exams in three shifts to reduce examination time, a SOP should be prepared after taking into consideration all possibilities related to completion of necessary arrangements as regard to sanitisation and physical distancing between the intervals of two shifts.
Effort should be made to reduce the travelling time of students. Special attention should be paid to students’ safety. Arrangement should be made for holding additional examination for students residing in remote areas or students unable to write examination due to other reasons.
Work should also be undertaken for students’ counseling, he added. The Secretary to Governor, Manohar Dubey informed that permission has been granted by the NAAC for extending grading period for further six months.
He emphasized the need for ensuring adequate arrangement like thermal checking, sanitisers and other necessary arrangements at examination centers. One room should be kept reserved in view of emergency situation at examination centres to enable students with symptoms of fever etc. to write paper in isolation.