KU’s indecisiveness over exams taking toll on students
Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, May 12: As the University of Kashmir is mulling to conduct online exams for different semesters, the students accuse Varsity of sidelining their issues which were in line with the UGC guidelines issued in view of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The students said that the university has constituted committee to prepare modalities for online exams and it is likely to come up with a decision after the current phase of the lockdown comes to an end on 17th May. The students, however, alleged that the university neither consulted them nor entertained their suggestions.
The students said that the indifference of the administration has taken a toll on their psyche which was already affected due to the COVID 19 pandemic. “While people around the world are easing the mental pressure on the student community by offering them various concessions, our university is acting otherwise,” a student said.
Last week, the Joint CR Association of the University wrote a letter to the university administration wherein it urged the varsity to follow the university guidelines which were issued in view of the Carnivorous pandemic and growing stress among students.
“The students have been suffering from mental disorder due to the prevailing situation since August 5 2019, and it has been over 10 months now that immediate semester and fresh batch of 2019 are on the same page. We are unable to undergo any mode of examination right now,” the letter reads. It further states that the combined examination is creating panic among students.
While the university is busy preparing examination schedule so as to conduct them as soon as possible, the students are a worried lot. “There were many late admissions in last session. A number of students joined as late as February and the university closed due to corona virus lock down in March. But, the students also took the internal tests. The uncertainty as to whether they have to prepare for the previous semester exam while also studying for the next semester has caused them great mental agony,” Saqib, a student told Excelsior.
Interestingly, the Kashmir university’s decision to prepare modalities for examinations at the earliest is in sharp contrast to the recommendations of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The UGC had recommended that university exams should be conducted for final semesters only, while the students in intermediate semesters should be graded based on internal assessment of the present and previous semesters.
An official at the university said that a committee has been formed to take a decision on this matter. “The committee met yesterday but it has not taken any conclusive decision yet. Various things are still being discussed,” officials said.
The restriction on the high speed internet has also caused a great deal of stress among the students. “They know the situation that students are facing in virtual mode due to 2G and many students are still unable to get smartphones to take all the virtual classes. We do not know what they are trying to do,” Amir Ahmad, a student said.
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