Exams next month, but Mumbai university yet to decide on viva dates, student registration

Senior Mumbai university officials said they too lack clarity on these issues

After putting the chaos surrounding results behind them, colleges are now sceptical whether the University of Mumbai can stick to the upcoming examination schedule for the current batch. These exams are meant to begin in a month, and other than a tentative date and a schedule for a handful of courses, the university has not yet intimated colleges about the process of student registration, paper setting and dates for viva.

An official from the examination department said a circular will be released soon. (HT File)

“The university still seems to be busy with results. In the meantime, we have just about a month before examinations for the current batch begins. Not a single circular or letter regarding this has been shared yet,” said a principal, who did not wish to be identified. The last intimation from university was a mention about the first year examination dates being postponed from October 30 to November 20.

Usually, a month before exams begin, paper setters are asked to start work and a deadline is set, giving teachers enough time to put together three sets of the same subject. With many exams set to begin in the first week of November, colleges and teachers are still waiting to hear from the university.

What’s worse is that all Board of Studies (BoS) posts in MU were dissolved earlier in September, following which certain subjects are functioning without a BoS, leaving teachers with no point of contact.

“Bachelors in Mass Media (BMM) students were supposed to have a university-level viva exam in the first week of October according to a schedule announced by the university, but we have still not received any intimation about the exam. We don’t have a BoS head either,” said a teacher from a suburban college.

Senior MU officials said they lacked clarity on the issue. However, an official from the examination department said a circular will be released soon. “We just want to ensure that no errors creep into the examination process this semester, so we are taking the process slowly. Colleges and teachers will receive their intimation letters by next week so they can start work on paper setting,” said the official.