COVID-19: Teacher's union asks Mumbai University to promote first-year & second-year students

BUCTU urged the University of Mumbai to promote all first-year and second-year undergraduate students as the rising health crisis due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in India led to the postponement of examinations up to an infinite period of time.

Bombay University and College Teachers Union (BUCTU) urged the University of Mumbai to promote all first-year and second-year undergraduate students as the rising health crisis due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in India led to the postponement of examinations up to an infinite period of time.

The BUCTU wrote a letter to the university’s Vice-Chancellor Suhas Pednekar, BUCTU President G B Raje and General Secretary Madhu Paranjpe highlighting the plight of millions of displaced households, lost incomes and desperation to migrate to their native places on foot due to the nationwide lockdown for 21 days in the wake of the COVID-19 spread.

In the letter, BUCTU further stated the negatives of rescheduling the examinations after lockdown. It expressed that any plans by the varsity to announce tentative exam schedules would lead to additional stress for the stranded students. The Union advised the Mumbai University to completely focus on the commencement of the Academic Year 2020-2021 when the lockdown ends and normalcy returns instead of announcing tentative exam schedules.

BUCTU wrote, ‘All First Year & Second Year (degree) students should be allowed to take admission for the next year, pending their exams and results. All students in all faculties be allowed to keep term next year. This should be made applicable to all autonomous institutions as well.’

The Union also requested the varsity to convey the suggestions stated by BUCTU in the letter to the Chancellor, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Minister for Higher & Technical Education Uday Samant in this matter.

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