Colleges brace for polls, set gaps between exams to avoid chaos

In anticipation of the upcoming assembly elections, when their teachers will be pressed into polling duties, many colleges have started to precautionary steps to avoid confusion and ensure that examinations are uninterrupted by the chaos at the time.

Mumbai University has kept certain working days bereft of any exams so that any rescheduling can be accommodated.

Dinesh Bhonde, MU's controller of exams, said, "We have left gaps. Should the election dates coincide, exams of that day will be re-scheduled within those gap days."

Most colleges are waiting for the election dates with crossed fingers. "We can't take any action till the picture is clear. However, it is usually the arts students that suffer, due to the myriad of subjects that they study. First years and second years should not face any problems (being internal exams) as colleges will probably finish them by the end of September," said Dr Madhu Nair, dean of Commerce, Nirmala Memorial Foundation College.

Several schools across the city are also worried about teachers' polling duties clashing with exams and their training sessions leaving institutes short-handed.

Rajesh Pandya, vice-president of the Teachers' Democratic Front, said, "Ideally, only thirty per cent of the staff is required to participate in polling duties, but inevitably all the teachers are called, adversely affecting the children's learning."