No college-university examinations in September: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday invoked a provision of the Disaster Management Act to postpone final year examinations of universities and colleges amid the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.  

Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday (August 28) said that the state will not conduct any college examinations amid the COVID-19 spread in September 2020.

The Supreme Court on Friday (August 28) said that college students can't be promoted without the final year examinations. The top court also said that the examinations must be held this year (2020), though the states have been given a window to defer tests beyond Sept 30 due to the coronavirus spread.

University Grants Commission (UGC), which is the national education body, had said the final year examinations must be held by September 30, 2020.

The UGC, during the court hearing, said the states cannot give degrees to the students without examinations but are free to defer the dates.

Addressing a virtual meet to celebrate the foundation day of Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, Mamata said, "It is not possible to hold an examination in September due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Education Minister Partha Chatterjee would consult all state-run universities and colleges to formulate a plan whether online or offline final year examinations can be conducted before Durga Puja or not.”

She directed the education minister, present at the event, to consult the concerned parties before taking a decision and inform the students within a week.

The West Bengal chief minister has expressed serious concerns over the Centre’s decision to hold terminal examinations for various courses in colleges and universities and to conduct NEET, JEE amid the pandemic.