The students of Directorate of Distance Education (DDE) at Madurai Kamaraj University are in a fix due to an unexpected move from the officials who have fixed the dates for the non-semester exams in June.
The exams are usually held in May, considering the convenience of the students including a large number of teachers pursuing higher education. Since the non-semester exams usually conclude by March-end, the candidates working as teachers in various schools would be able to start working when the schools restart in June.
According to sources, the DDE is going to start the exams for the undergraduate courses on May 31 while the postgraduate exams will commence on June 16. Diploma courses exams begin on June 13 and MCA, MBA exams will be commencing on June 13. Due to the unexpected rescheduling, the candidates are struggling to get leave from their respective workplaces.
Speaking to Express, one of the DDE candidates Packiyam, who works as a primary teacher in a government higher secondary school, said, "I am studying M.A., Tamil in MKU DDE. This year, unusually, the DDE has announced non-semester exams for the students in the month of June. During that time, we have working days at school and it would be very difficult for us to avail leave for more than a week. Moreover, there are several other teachers studying in DDE. We have already paid the exams fees and if our school authorities refuse to provide leave, we cannot write the exams. Also, we have some workshop on that particular period."
"If the DDE officials can reschedule the exam dates to May, it will be very useful for us," she added.
Asked about the demands from the candidates, M Rajarajan, Additional Controller of Examinations, DDE, said that holding the exams in June was not unusual and changing the dates was not possible.
With the DDE launched in 1971, Madurai Kamaraj University is a pioneer in distance education. It has been offering various undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, certificate courses for students across the country. Many people working in private and government sectors, housewives, and students benefit from the courses offered by the DDE. It helps them pursue higher studies without attending regular classes. Several school teachers are reportedly continuing their postgraduates through DDE.
