On Friday, May 9, 2020, the state government of Maharashtra announced that the examinations for first and second-year students were cancelled due to the coronavirus spread in the state. Further, Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant announced another decision which stated that the final-year students will have to appear for the exams. These exams will be conducted in July 2020. Upon knowing this, many students across the state and from Mumbai University expressed their displeasure asking the government to cancel the examinations.
Following this announcement, the youth wing of Shiv Sena decided to support the students of Maharashtra seeking cancellation of examinations for final-year students. In a letter addressed to the Chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC), Varun Sardesai, Secretary of Yuva Sena, wrote, "Sir, we are facing an unprecedented situation in form of COVID-19 and the entire nation has been in lockdown for over a month. While we have taken a decision of cancelling all examinations except that of the Final Semester, the fate of students studying in the final year hangs in balance."
"These students studying in the final year are under immense stress and pressure as to how their examinations would be conducted and would they pose a risk to their health. Hence, as per directions of Shivsena Leader and Maharashtra State Cabinet Minister Aaditya Thackeray, we sincerely request you to consider cancelling the examinations of Final Semester as well," he added.
Maha Gov and Min @samant_uday ji have taken a decision to cancel exams of 1st and 2nd yr
— Varun Sardesai (@SardesaiVarun) May 9, 2020
Final Year students are under tremendous stress as to how to face exams with the health risk they pose
We request UGC to consider cancelling all exams including Final semester @AUThackeray pic.twitter.com/xinl1FnIYu
The decision taken for first and second-year students came as a relief and several took to Twitter to share their joy. However, the disappointment spread faster among the final year students, who were worried about travelling for the exams, moving back to the hostels and a lot more, amidst the lockdown.
Samant further confirmed that the marks for first and second-year students will be given based on the aggregates and they will be promoted to the next class. However, if students belong to the two-year, four-year and five-year courses, and have their final semesters exams, they will have to appear for the same, as per the dates decided by the Mumbai University.
Also Read: Netizens Get Into A Frenzy Over Maharashtra University Exam Cancellation