MU postpones PhD entrance test
The University of Mumbai has postponed the PhD Entrance Test (PET) citing clashing of dates with other exams. However, senior University officials claimed that there are other reasons for the postponement.
According to a member of the senate, the postponement of the PET was inevitable as the examination section had not received the manuscripts of the PET question papers from some of the departments. “Though the board of examination is responsible for getting the question papers made by the respective departments, the ongoing strike of teachers has resulted in the manuscripts of the question papers not being made. The University had no option, but to postpone the exams as the striking teachers are the only ones qualified to make the question papers,” said the senate member.
Another reason for the postponement can be attributed to the fact that there is a disagreement between certain members of the academic council on the decentralisation of the PET exams, the member added.
“The University had decided to decentralise the process by appointing centres to conduct the PET. However, a section of the academic council members have aired fears about the centres manipulating the exams for the benefit of preferred candidates,” said the senator.
Deepak Wasave, Controller of Examination (CoE), however, refuted allegations of the manuscripts not being available. “The BoE will provide the manuscripts when the exams are scheduled,” said Mr Wasave, not confirming whether the manuscripts were available with the BoE.
He added that as many exams of the postgraduation courses would clash with the PET dates, the University had no option, but to postpone the exams.
He, however, admitted that the decentralisation issue was also an important one and the same had to be ironed out. “The issue will come up before the academic council and after it is resolved, the new dates for PET will be announced,” he said.
Post new comment