JNU won’t close during Games

The buzz around the Commonwealth Games has inspired a change in new academic calendar across schools and universities, reports Ritika Chopra.

The buzz around the Commonwealth Games has inspired a change in new academic calendar across schools and universities.

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Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is an exception.

While other institutions in Delhi are keen on closing during the event, JNU has told the Ministry of Human Resource Development that it will not be able to do the same.

The ministry had recently sent a circular to all central universities in the Capital — including Delhi University and Jamia Millia Islamia — advising them to accommodate the Games in their new academic calendar.

“We follow semester system and normally do not have an autumn break. October is a crucial and busy month and closing for as many as 10 days is not possible,” said Ramadhikari Kumar, rector, JNU.

The Delhi government on Monday had announced that all schools in the Capital would be closed from October 1 to 17 to allow students to attend the Games and ease congestion.

Institutions such as DU, IP University and Delhi Technological University (DTU), too, are keen on following this lead.

“We will suspend classes and try to make up either during the summer or winter break,” said PB Sharma, vice Chancellor, DTU, which also follows semester system.

“Almost 85 per cent of our students live on campus. We are in one corner of the city and I am sure we will not affect the traffic situation,” said Kumar.

This decision will affect the JNU student volunteers for the Games. “The semester system is all about continuous evaluation. We are bound suffer if we miss classes,” said a student who did not wish to be named.