Kottayam: The Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) in a historic move has decided to grant a maternity leave of 60 days for degree and postgraduate students of 18 years and above. The move is aimed at supporting their education and avoiding any interruptions.
Students are required to provide a medical certificate signed by a registered doctor along with the leave application three days before the leave starts.
The decision was taken on Friday in a Syndicate meeting chaired by Pro Vice-Chancellor CT Aravinda Kumar. The Syndicate approved the recommendations of a committee formed to study the issue.
According to the statement released by the university, maternity leave can be taken before or after the delivery. A student can only avail the leave only once during the duration of a course. It is only applicable to the first or second pregnancy. The management will also be granting a leave of 14 days in case of abortion and tubectomy.
It is specified that the period of leave will include public and ordinary holidays. No other leave can be clubbed with it.
The students who take maternity leave during a semester will be allowed to register for exams in the same semester. They can also write it as a supplementary exam along with regular students in the next semester. But, these students will not lose a semester and can continue the current semester with their own batch.
The head of the institution or department is instructed to make necessary arrangements for practical, lab, and viva exams.