Technical glitch has compelled Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) to cancel the examinations scheduled on Friday. There were 17 examinations scheduled on Friday and all were cancelled. Director of Examinations and Evaluation Dr Praful Sable confirmed this development and made clear the examinations on Saturday would be held as per schedule.

 

On Friday, there were 17 examinations and 4,000 students were to appear in those. Most examinations were of subjects related to Biotechnology. On Friday, the problem began from the first phase that began at 9.30 am. Learning a lesson from the incident that messed up the examinations on Thursday, the university had decided to drop One Time Password (OTP) system. Accordingly students operated user ID and password and tried to write the examinations.

Unfortunately they could not. The examinations are conducted in three phases -- 9.30 am to 10.30 am, 11.30 am to 12.30 noon and 1.30 pm to 2.30 pm. From the first phase that was scheduled between 9.30 am and 10.30 am the problem began and university had to take decision of canceling the examinations.

 

‘The Hitavada’ Samudrapur Correspondent said, some students approached him with the complaint and they did not get any information either from their colleges or from university. According to him students felt they faced problems because of not having network in rural area. Later on they came to know the problem was all over.

 

On Thursday, the examination began when students in large number including those whose examinations were not scheduled hit the Pariksha App and everything went wrong. The number of students asking for OTP was more because the students whose examination was not scheduled too operated the app out of curiosity.

 

Dr Praful Sable told ‘The Hitavada’, “Problem on Friday was totally different. This is everybody’s first experience in terms of holding on-line examinations. We too are trying to do our best. Prior to examinations we had checked every minute details. Our Vice-Chancellor Dr Subhash Chaudhari, Registrar Dr Neeraj Khaty and we all checked the issues related to App. We also checked the network issue with our people in remote areas and the results were very good. Obviously we were sure about the smooth handling of examinations. But something went wrong.”

 

Of course there are large number of students appearing in 190 examinations and RTMNU has to take care of all. The technical team along with Dr Chaudhari, Dr Khaty, Dr Sable all stayed in university late night and checked every minute details so that there should not be any problem on Saturday.

 

Dr Chaudhari personally felt very much sad as students had to face the problems for no fault of theirs. He said, “Whatever happened was unintentional and I am sure every employee in examination department and

technical team took pains. They did their job sincerely but they failed to deliver. I don’t blame anybody and I am optimistic that Saturday would be different day for students and for us too.”

 

University has decided to hold examinations for the students who missed on Thursday and Friday but has not fixed the date or day. University issued one circular on Friday afternoon according to which examinations would be conducted either on coming Sunday or on some days. University would soon declare the dates for the same, Dr Sable said.