HYDERABAD: Confusion continues to surround the conduct of degree examinations across Telangana, as five out of six conventional universities are yet to commence their final semester exams. Except for Osmania University, no other institution has begun the exams, with some repeatedly revising schedules and others yet to issue one at all.
Meanwhile, the Telangana State Council of Higher Education has announced the dates for competitive entrance tests: EdCET on June 1, LAWCET on June 6, and ICET on June 8 and 9. This has left nearly one lakh final-year degree students anxious, wondering how they can adequately prepare for these crucial tests when their academic exams remain incomplete.
Students argue that at least a month of focused preparation is necessary to secure a good rank in entrance exams. They urge universities to expedite the conduct of both final and lower-year degree exams to avoid academic disruptions.
Repeated postponements despite schedules
As April draws to a close, none of the five universities—excluding Osmania—has managed to commence final semester exams for third-year students. Universities have been releasing schedules only to defer them at the last minute.
For instance, Kakatiya University had initially scheduled exams from April 21, then rescheduled them for April 28, only to delay them again. Similarly, Mahatma Gandhi University in Nalgonda postponed its exams twice—first from April 11 to April 17, and now to May 15.
Palamuru University had also planned to begin exams on April 28 but has pushed them by a week. Satavahana University and Telangana University have not announced any exam schedule yet.
Future of students caught between colleges and the government
Adding to the uncertainty is the long-standing financial standoff between the state government and private degree colleges. For the past three years, the government has not released fee reimbursement funds to colleges. Despite repeated requests over the last year, there has been no response.
As a result, college managements have categorically refused to cooperate with the examination process until dues are cleared. According to university sources, although students have paid their exam fees to colleges, many institutions have not forwarded the payments to the respective universities, leading to the postponement of exams.
The Telangana Private Degree Colleges Association president, Surya Narayana Reddy, said that over ₹7,000 crore in fee reimbursement dues are pending across various types of colleges, with ₹650 crore owed specifically to degree institutions. “We are demanding that at least ₹200 crore, for which the finance department has already issued tokens, be released immediately,” he said.
