University may put off odd semester undergraduate exam

It is to enable Kodagu colleges to complete lessons

The odd semester undergraduate examinations of Mangalore University scheduled to begin in late October is likely to be postponed for a fortnight to enable degree colleges in Kodagu, ravaged by landslips and floods, to complete lessons on par with their counterparts in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.

According to Kishore Kumar C.K., acting vice-chancellor of the university, October 17 would be the last working day for colleges in the current semester. The undergraduate examinations have been scheduled from October 25.

As colleges in Kodagu have lost 15 working days due to heavy rain, floods and landslips, many principals are hopeful that they would be able to cover the syllabi prescribed, if the last working day is extended by a fortnight.

Mr. Kumar told

The Hindu that though the university initially thought of conducting examinations later for colleges under Kodagu, it has dropped the idea now due to logistical issues. It involved the issues of students in Kodagu getting different sets of question papers and conducting evaluation of answer scripts again. Hence, the university is for conducting the examinations for all colleges once, by giving time for colleges in Kodagu to make up for the classes lost.

“We might have to start the examinations after November 10. A decision will be taken in a few days after consulting the bodies concerned of the university,” he said.

Mr. Kumar said that the university has accommodated about 80 students affected by landslips and connectivity issues in the hostels of Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa College, a constituent college of the university, in Madikeri now. Among them are 45 girls. There are about 20 colleges under the university in Kodagu.

A.M. Khan, Registrar (administration), said that landslips have mainly hit students studying in colleges in Madikeri town due to connectivity issues and loss of property. Students studying in colleges in Gonikoppa, Somwarpet and Virajpet are affected to a lesser extent.

Educational records submitted by students to colleges during admission are safe, he said and added that except three, not many complaints have been received from students on the loss of educational records of the university.