Exam Dormancy Explained
Mumbai University has officially designated 304 examination papers as dormant, signaling a significant update to its academic catalog. This decision impacts
papers that have experienced a complete absence of student enrollment for the past two to three years, alongside those that have been obsolete for a decade due to old syllabus structures. The university's directive, issued on February 10th, clarifies that while proposals for reviving dormant papers due to lack of registration can be considered, examinations for courses that have been discontinued for ten years will not be reinstated under any circumstances. This measure is a common practice in academic institutions, driven by the need to adapt to evolving curricula and student interests, ensuring the educational offerings remain relevant and efficient. The categorization into these two distinct groups—lack of recent student interest and long-term syllabus obsolescence—highlights a thoughtful approach to academic resource management.
Categorizing Dormant Papers
The 304 dormant examinations fall into two primary categories. Firstly, 125 papers have been declared dormant due to a complete lack of student registrations over the preceding two to three years. These represent courses that have, for various reasons, failed to attract any candidates recently. Secondly, 179 papers are being discontinued because they are based on outdated syllabi or examination patterns that have been phased out for a decade. This latter group pertains to courses that are no longer offered by the university, making their associated examinations redundant. An official from Mumbai University elaborated that this process is typical, often involving restructuring of courses and syllabus updates. Issues like students attempting to clear backlogs in old patterns can lead to prolonged enrollment in obsolete papers. The decision to declare exams dormant addresses these specific scenarios, ensuring that the university's examination framework aligns with current academic standards and student engagement levels.
Impact and Historical Context
The current move to declare 304 exams dormant follows a similar, though less extensive, action taken in 2007. Previously, examinations with no student registration were declared dormant, but students had the continued option to appear for exams based on old patterns. This distinction highlights an evolution in the university's approach to managing its examination portfolio. Among the 125 papers with no recent student enrollment, the Faculty of Commerce and Management accounts for 23, Humanities for 15, Interdisciplinary Studies for 42, and the Faculty of Science and Technology for 45. For the 179 papers rendered dormant due to long-standing syllabus obsolescence, the breakdown includes 10 from Science and Technology, 86 from Humanities, 42 from Interdisciplinary Studies, and another 45 also from Science and Technology. This comprehensive review ensures that only actively relevant examinations remain in the university's examination schedule.
