In a relief for lakhs of students across the country, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has decided to extend submission date for its mandatory Tutor Marked Assignments (TMA) to May end from the current April 30 deadline. Vice-chancellor Nageshwar Rao also told that the theory exams scheduled for June may also get postponed.

Without submission of TMAs, students cannot appear for the theory exams. Rao said, “We will always take student-friendly decisions and are well aware of the current situation in various parts of the country. Official announcement for extending the TMAs shall be made within a couple of days, but I can confirm that it will be extended by a month (to May 31).”

Students had been requesting an extension in the assignment submission deadline because the pandemic has led to lockdown-like restrictions in some states, with the possibility of it being implemented by a few more. These restrictions on movement will make it impossible for students, who are mostly working professionals, to go to IGNOU study centres and submit assignments.

Last year, IGNOU had accepted online submissions of scanned copies of handwritten TMAs as there was a nationwide lockdown in effect. But no specific instruction for the same has been given this year.

IGNOU exams are scheduled twice a year, in June and December. Vice-chancellor Rao told TOI that adhering to that schedule seems unlikely. “Going specifically by today’s scenario, I don’t think we will be able to go ahead with these tests at that time. But the final decision will be of the government. Last year, we were directed to hold final year exams within a specified window, and that was complied with. Similarly, this year too we shall wait for government’s directives regarding exam schedule,” said Rao.

Many universities across the country, including Nagpur University, are conducting their exams online. But with IGNOU catering to students across the country, some in remote villages of Gadchiroli too, an online exam won’t be a universally feasible option.

In the last session, final year students appeared for theory exams while others were given an option to be evaluated through internal marks or appear for a theory paper later.