NU first year students to get conditional promotion

The National University is planning to provide conditional promotion to its first year students into the second year as the coronavirus situation is still unpredictable.

About 6.5 lakh students got admitted to colleges under the National University across the country under the 2019-20 academic session. 

The students have been waiting for their first year final examinations since October last year. But the examinations have been postponed due to the rising trend of Covid-19 pandemic infection.

Professor M Mashiur Rahman, vice-chancellor of National University, told The Business Standard that they are thinking of promoting the first year students to the second year on some conditions. 

"Maximum colleges completed college examinations and we will promote them on the basis of those results. Generally, 95% of students pass the first year examinations every year. So, it will not be harmful if we promote everyone automatically," the VC said. 

"The first year students will continue second year classes and they will have to sit for the first year final examinations after Covid-19 pandemic situation. We will provide a form to every student and they will submit it to the colleges with their commitment to sit for the examinations later," he added.

The National University sources said the authorities are also thinking of promoting the second and third year students taking online viva-voce or through assignment evaluation. 

When asked about the second and third year students, the VC said, "We have reached a consensus about the first year students. We are yet to decide about them. We are thinking of alternatives to in-person examinations."

Basically, the students are in depression and it is increasing day by day. We are going to take the decision considering the students' mental condition," the VC added.

About 32 lakh students are now studying at National University all over the country.

On 16 March last year, the government decided to shut down all educational institutes and coaching centres from 18 to 31 March for the sake of students' safety from the coronavirus infection.

The closure was later extended several times. The government also did not hold the Primary School Completion (PSC), Junior School Certificate (JSC), and their equivalent exams last year due to the pandemic.

The PSC and JSC examinees were promoted automatically, while HSC students were assessed based on their JSC and SSC results. All students from the primary to the secondary level were also promoted automatically.

In the meantime, the government is mulling providing the SSC and HSC results 2021 through assignment evaluation instead of holding in-person examinations. 

About 4.5 crore students from the pre-primary to higher education level are enrolled in nearly two lakh educational institutions across the country.