KARACHI, July 5: MA annual examination for external students conducted under the aegis of the University of Karachi began in a mess, said sources on the campus.Due to poor publicity about the changes in examination timings, a sizable number of students could not appear in the exams commenced on Wednesday morning. They reported for MA (Previous) examinations at afternoon according to the previous schedule claiming that they were not updated by the university about the changes in exam timings, said a source.
Initially, the university despatched admit cards and examination programme notifying the candidates that the exams would be held at afternoon. However, the examination department of the university changed its plan in view of the non-availability of the accommodation in various departments at afternoon and decided to conduct the exams from 10am to 1pm, which was reported in newspapers as well.
The MA examination commenced on Wednesday morning as per revised schedule and a majority of the candidates appeared in the exams. However, things turned difficult for the examination department at afternoon when hundreds of students visited the campus for the exams.
“We received around 250 to 300 applications from students, in which it was claimed that they were not aware about changes made in timings by the examination department and as such papers should be held again,” said an official of the examination department, saying that there is a likelihood that some more students too had not been able to appear for the similar reason and as such it was decided by the authorities that the papers should be held again for those candidates who could not appear in the exams on July 5.In the meantime, a university notification said that the candidates of MA (Previous) examinations, who missed their first paper due to change of timings, would be held on July 17 at 10am. Remaining papers of the examination would be held as per schedule from 10am to 1pm, added the notification.
On the other hand, hundreds of students who had undergone mental agony and pain due to university’s failure in delivering their respective admit cards at their residences, demanded for a detailed enquiry into the matter.
It was learnt that the university had hired courier service to despatch the admit cards and examination schedule. However, a considerable number of candidates did not receive the admit cards and consequently they had to visit the university for acquisition of duplicate admit cards. The university had fixed July 1 and 2 for issuance of duplicate admit cards, but candidates had to remain on tow even a day before the commencement of exams for cards.
“We had to fulfil the formalities of examination department afresh. We had to stand in queues for long in the hot and humid days, which reflected the poor management of the examination department and needed to be sorted out on permanent basis,” said some of the candidates.
