Bamu gears up for restarting classes after Covid, no reduction in syllabus

Mehboob Inamdar

Aurangabad, Feb 11

There will be no reduction in syllabus of different undergraduate and postgraduate courses within the jurisdiction of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (Bamu) for the academic year 2020-21.

It may be noted that the actual classes for UG and PG courses were delayed by nearly six months this year with the spread of Novel coronavirus. There are 410 colleges affiliated in Bamu in Aurangabad, Jalna, Beed and Osmanabad districts. They have an intake capacity of 4 lakh.

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has reduced 25 per cent of the syllabus for students appearing for 10th and 12th classes for the examinations to be held in April-May 2021 because of delay in commencement of the new academic year.

The State government gave permission to restart teaching in the university and colleges from February 15. Gearing up for the classes, Bamu asked the departments and colleges to allow only 50 per cent attendance of students on a rotation basis.

The university will conduct UG second and third-year students examinations from March 5 and PG from March 19. The schedule of the first-year students is yet to be announced.

Teachers and students from the senior colleges too were hoping that the university will reduce the curricula for the first session of the new academic year in students' interest as it is an autonomous institute.

Students union leaders told this newspaper that the university can reduce up to 25 per cent syllabus considering the post-Covid situation, specially in rural areas.

“Many students have to work to support their parents because of financial losses after lockdown. The reduction in the syllabus will help to cut their stress,” they added.

According to sources from Bamu, the administration is not ready to take any decision considering ongoing row between governor and chancellor of university Bhagat Singh Koshyari and the State Government.

When contacted, vice-chancellor Dr Pramod Yeole said they would implement the syllabus and conduct the examinations as per the orders and instructions of University Grants Commission and State Government. “So, colleges should complete the given syllabus as there is no such plan to reduce it,” he added.