Due to delayed UG enrollment, DU and JNU schedule weekend sessions and adjust breaks

Due to the uncertainty surrounding the CUET UG results, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Delhi University (DU) have decided to shorten the winter break and start weekend classes in reaction to the delayed admissions.

On July 19, the National Testing Agency (NTA), which administers the admission exam, issued a retest for over 1,000 CUET UG students. This decision was made in response to grievances raised by candidates, who mentioned things like lost time as a result of receiving the wrong question paper.

The results release, which was initially planned for June 30 but has now been postponed by more than two weeks, has not been made clear by the agency. Additionally, the undergraduate admission test final answer key has not yet been released.

A senior JNU official claims that the university's capacity to provide a single academic calendar for all student batches will be impacted by the delay in the result announcement. To make up for lost time and finish the syllabus, the institution might have to shorten the winter vacation and arrange more Saturday lectures, the official said.

We might need to teach six days a week instead of five, using Saturdays to cover the curriculum. If necessary, we will also think about cutting the winter vacation short."

"JNU intended to provide a uniform academic schedule for all batches starting this year to create parity in the admissions procedure. The difficulties seen during the COVID-19 epidemic led to the practice's discontinuation. When the result dates are revealed, everything will become evident," the official was cited by news agency PTI.

Vice Chancellor Anu Singh Lather announced that Ambedkar University plans to make up for any delays by holding additional classes on the weekends and in night, as well as by reducing holidays if needed. "The re-test would cause a two-week delay, approximately. That doesn't seem like a big deal, and a few extra lessons could easily make up for it."

"Originally, the session was supposed to start from August 1 for first-year students, but if the results are not announced in the next two weeks, we will hold extra classes for them in the evening after regular classes on weekends and also reduce the number of holidays to cover up," Lather stated.

DU EXTENDS FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS' ACADEMIC CALENDAR

Delhi University officials pointed out that the postponement would cause first-year students' academic calendars to run later than planned. DU Registrar Vikas Gupta says that other students' schedules are still the same, with sessions starting on August 1.

DU released its second-year academic calendar earlier this week, which included a four-day winter break. The university did not explain this modification.

IP University closes admissions during the last round of CUET and expects results to be available before then, therefore an official from IP University said that the delay in CUET results would not affect its admissions process.

In response to inquiries on this subject, Jamia Millia Islamia, which also employs CUET for UG admissions in several courses, did not immediately reply. Only CUET results are used by Delhi University and Ambedkar University to determine admission to undergraduate and graduate programs.

On the other hand, colleges like JNU, Jamia, and IP University either keep their entrance exam procedures or accept CUET marks for particular courses.