Dr.S.Ganesan
Regional Director, IGNOU
While booking flight or train ticket, we all try to book as early as possible; even 3-6 months in advance, to save cost and also ensure availability of seats. Whereas, in case of distance learning system, majority of the students wait for last date to approach (or) extension of last date. Why it is so? The University keeps the schedule of operations, well in advance for each activity. For example, to conduct the exams the ‘Pre-exam’ activities, ‘Exam’ activities, ‘Post-exam’ activities, ‘Review of exam’ activities etc. are scheduled with dates for each one. To maintain the organized, pre-planned, sequence of operations, the last date(s) for students are fixed. For the same, the time limit ends 30 to 90 days prior to the academic activity. {But for some activities, such as – the ‘admission’ is open round-the-year}. The last dates are very well informed to the students, through admission confirmation communication, along with student identity card. The fresher induction meeting highlights various last dates to students. It is advised to store the last dates in their mobile phone also. The SMS, email alerts are also being used to remind the students well in advance.
Being online mode of payment, the digital platforms / gate ways automatically close at exact last date. For some of the payment activities, the late fee option is not given for administrative reasons. So missing the last date, will force to delay of 6-months of study period. In other words, the period of study will be extended 6-months more. Earlier during off-line mode of payments, the flexibility and discretary power of local authorities helped the delayed students. But, the online mode has removed all such possibilities now.
Last Date Time Limit Ends Activity Details
30 April 30 Days before June Exam Re-admission Fee Payment
30 October 30 Days before December Exam Re-admission Fee Payment
31 March 60 Days before June Exam June Exam Fee payment
30 September 60 Days before December Exam December Exam Fee Payment
31 March 90 Days prior to commencement of
July session Re-registration Fee payment for July session
30 September 90 Days prior to commencement of
January session Re-registration Fee payment for January session
31 March 60 days before June exam Assignments submission
30 September 60 days before December exam Assignments submission
Within 30 days from date of declaration exam Results Re-evaluation (or) Re-totaling of Exam Answer Paper
It is normal human psychology to postpone the activities till the last date / dead-line to come. It is the habit inbuilt in our behavior. We can overcome the rigid habit of executing the activity, with hesitation (resistance), before the deadline. The early bird payment for some incentive /attractions to the distance learners, such as some minimum discount refund. It is usual to receive few phone calls (almost daily) from the distance learners, asking about the possibility of extension of last date. When we ask for the reason(s) for such question, the students do not have any solid, valid reasons. Just like that, they expect extension of last date. The student-friendly institute (People’s University) normally considers various factors to extend the last date. The Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system has already embedded with lot of flexibilities for the benefit of learners. If the study material reach the student, beyond the scheduled period, he/she is given one month (4-weeks) time to submit the assignments, from the date of receipt of study material. This is one of the in-built flexibilities of ODL system for last date extension.
‘Early is better than late; late is better than Never’. Kal ka kaam aaj kar, Aaj ka kaam abi kar. – are some of the time management slogans popularly used. What we are going to gain, by delaying the action? to get bank interest! I t gives pleasure!! Then What? Mostly it is normal laziness and lethargic attitude only. We can avoid last minute unnecessary tension, rise of blood pressure etc. Let the distance learners are sensitized about the ill-effect of delayed action; they need not wait for further extension of last date. Let the attitude change positively.
