The indefinite closure of arts and science colleges in the state of Tamil Nadu to prevent student protests over the Sri Lankan issue now threatens to derail the academic schedule this year, Indian media reported.

Colleges were to start practical exams this month and results were scheduled early June. Having lost ten days, now it appears that exams, valuation and results will be delayed, dragging the academic year.

The state government had asked colleges to close on March 15 when students were up in arms against the alleged genocide in Sri Lanka. Some campuses were planning to resume classes on Monday, but that was not to be. University of Madras has postponed its practical exams.

Colleges that directly come directly under universities are likely to suffer more as they take a longer time for exam preparation. A vice chancellor with a state university said colleges have to ensure at least 90 working days a semester before going in for exams. “If the reopening is delayed by one more week, it will upset the academic schedule,” he said.

March usually means a tough month for college administrations as they have to finish the practical and theory exams and soon take up valuation to publish results by the first week of June. “Identifying exam centres and valuation centres, inspection and result announcement take a lot of time in the university system, though autonomous colleges may be quicker,” said an academician.

On Monday, three days after the UNHRC vote on Sri Lanka’s alleged war crimes in Geneva, state higher education secretary Apurva Varma sought the vice-chancellors’ opinion on reopening of colleges. Official sources said a decision will be taken by the education department before Wednesday.

A senior faculty of Loyola College said the exams and valuation in all autonomous colleges will be delayed at least by seven days. “The internal examination is not over and the normal exam scheduled for the second week of April has to be postponed,” he said. But exam results may be announced on time as we have a buffer of one week between valuation and results.

Madras Christian College principal R W Alexander Jesudasan said he is yet to get official information about college reopening. University of Madras vice-chancellor R Thandavan said a decision can be expected soon. “We will try to avoid a long delay in exams. The loss of 10 days can be compensated with some rescheduling,” he said. - ToI