68 MU exams deferred due to state elections

To allow students and teachers exercise their right to vote, the Mumbai University (MU) has postponed 68 winter semester examinations. These examinations were scheduled to be conducted on October 21-22. But due to a clash of dates with the state elections, these examinations have been shifted.

Around 22 examinations of the Science and Technology stream, 22 of Commerce and Management, 11 of Humanities and 13 examinations of the Interdisciplinary programme have been postponed. In total, dates of around 303 examination papers have been rescheduled.

MU authorities claim they want to allow students, teachers and staff involved in the examination to cast their vote and also fulfil electoral duties. A senior officer of MU said, “We have postponed these examinations so that students, teachers and staff can fulfil their electoral duties. Also, students can prepare and appear for examinations later without any stress of interference or delay due to the elections. Thus, they can complete both their examinations and electoral work.”

Students claim that they will have to spend additional time to prepare for examinations pushed to a later date. Ashish Mane, a student said, “We will have to spend additional days in the preparation for examinations that are rescheduled.” While Bhavika Rathod, another student said, “It is good that our examinations are shifted, as now we can cast our votes. Many of us prefer not to waste our time and do not vote because of examinations.”

Teachers claim that they need to juggle time between electoral duties and academic work. Hemant Chorge, a teacher said, “We are facing a tough time, as we have go complete the syllabus of winter semester examinations. Also, we will have to complete the electoral duties allotted to us simultaneously.”