At a time when state government proposed to cancel all examinations, including final year examination of conventional universities in Maharashtra due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation, the issue of health science courses exams remains unanswered.
After medical education minister Amit Deshmukh asked Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) to seek guidelines from central councils of medical education, the state varsity has started receiving the same from respective councils.
Almost all the councils – right from Ayush, dental and nursing – have advocated conducting all examinations of all students of health sciences, irrespective of the year of semester. The Medical Council of India board of governors (MCI-BOG), which is the most important council in the present situation, is yet to issue guidelines for examinations of modern medical science courses (MBBS/MD).
However, MCI is also set to follow the trend of other central councils, with some more relaxations to modern medical science students as they are working as front-line COVID warriors.
has in its possession the examination-related guidelines issued by the Central Councils of Indian Medicine (CCIM), Dental Council of India and Nursing Council and all of them have recommended that examinations are a must for all students of health sciences.
Guidelines clearly state that examinations should be conducted and universities should take a call on how to conduct them ensuring proper safety of students.
Deshmukh said the health university will only take the final call. “I have discussed this issue with MUHS vice-chancellor . The university is working on the details, but awaiting clarity from central councils so that they can act swiftly,” he said.
Sources at MUHS informed that the university has made two or three different plans to conduct examinations following the central council guidelines. But, all examinations of health science courses are most likely to be conducted in Maharashtra.
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What councils have suggested to MUHS
- It is must to conduct proper examination of all UG and PG students
- Universities should inform students about exam schedule at least 2-4 weeks before
- If the college hospital is Covid-19 hospital, clinical exams may be conducted in nearby college hospital
- Pre-clinical subject’s examination (practical) may be taken online
- It is mandatory for the university to issue mark sheets to each student
- Mark sheets must have mention of marks secured in each subject
Relaxation for students
- Student to be allowed to select the nearby college as an examination centre
- Norm of mandatory attendance (75%) may be relaxed
- Lockdown period may be treated as ‘deemed to be attended’ by all students
- No additional cost to students as a result of a disruption in teaching, evaluation process
- Strategies like online submission of dissertation for PG students
Courtesy: TOI
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