Undergraduate students of the University of Calcutta, currently in their first semester under the new structure after the third-semester phase, may face fresh uncertainty. According to the Controller of Examinations’ schedule, the first semester theory exams for three- and four-year undergraduate courses across nearly 150 affiliated colleges are set to begin on April 10 and continue until April 24.
However, college principals have expressed concerns that the examination period is likely to coincide with the peak election season. With administrative resources and infrastructure often diverted during polls, questions are being raised about whether it will be feasible to conduct examinations smoothly in mid-April as per the university’s timetable. This concern is evident even in the words of Vice-Chancellor Ashutosh Ghosh himself. He says, "According to current discussions, the state assembly elections are likely to be held during that time. Therefore, concerns about the examinations are natural."
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The principal's question is: why did the Controller's office schedule the examinations for that period? Following government directives, classes for first-year undergraduate students began on August 29 last year. Excluding Puja holidays and following University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, they have already completed more than 14 weeks of classes. Then why was the examination schedule announced so late? This creates a dual crisis. On the one hand, the syllabus is complete. On the other hand, if examinations are postponed due to elections, second-semester studies will be shelved. Meanwhile, at Jadavpur and Presidency universities, second semester classes have already begun after the first-semester examinations.
Senior officials of the University of Calcutta themselves say that once elections are announced, many colleges will be requisitioned by the Election Commission. Examinations will be disrupted. Lady Brabourne College Principal Shiuli Sarkar says, "Instead of conducting first semester examinations after the third semester, it would have been better to conduct them together or earlier. Otherwise, the situation of these students will be like that of the second-semester students of last year. That is, if first semester examinations are delayed due to elections, second semester examinations will be held after this year's Puja holidays!"
Yet, taking responsibility as Vice-Chancellor, Ashutosh has held repeated meetings with principals, Controller officials, and chairmen of departmental Boards of Studies to complete syllabi in colleges and conduct examinations. There, he has repeatedly spoken about coordinating the schedules of various semester examinations. Then why this reversal!
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According to Controller section officials, for the college principals' proposal to conduct first semester examinations along with the third semester or even before it, after completing the first semester syllabus, advanced major planning is required. Moreover, if first-semester examinations are held before the third semester, the continuity of the examination system will be disrupted.
According to Manas Kabir, General Secretary of the All Bengal Principals' Council and Syndicate member, "It is not right to discriminate between first and third semester students in this manner. If necessary, the examination schedule for the first semester can be revised with the Vice-Chancellor's intervention."
However, a Controller department official informed that the examination routine has been published, subject to approval from higher authorities. We have no alternative but to wait and see the election dates.
