ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: After a week-long campaign by the students of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), the university’s management finally rescheduled the final exams, allowing students from remote areas to celebrate Eid with their family members.

The AIOU had scheduled the last exam of Matric, Certificate of Teaching (CT) and Bachelor of Education (BEd) on October 26, a day prior to Eid. Students demanded the last exam be rescheduled since they could not visit their family members.

The university issued a circular on Tuesday stating that the final exams of Matric, CT and BEd programmes for course codes 247, 638, 513 and 2601 for the Spring Semester 2012 were rescheduled. These exams would be held on November 2 instead of October 26, but the exam timings and centres would remain unchanged.

Mohammad Aftab, 26, who was working in a private office and doing (CT) from AIOU, said he belonged to Lora, a village of Hazara Division.

Had the exam not been rescheduled, it would have been impossible for him to reach his native village, which was at a three-hour trek from the main road. He said he was glad he could now celebrate Eid with his family.

The AIOU spokesman, Ubaidullah Mumtaz, while talking to Dawn said the matter was brought to the notice of Vice Chancellor Dr Nazir Ahmed Sangi, who instructed the controller of exams to reschedule them immediately.

“Exam supervisors have been informed about the new date and students are requested to contact their supervisors,” he added.