Underprivileged students to get note pads for online classes

KU will go by UGC guidelines,
ends uncertainty over exams

Suhail Bhat

Srinagar, May 27: Much to the relief of the students, Kashmir University has finally decided to promote students to the next semester based on internal assessment as per the University Grants Commission guidelines.
The decision is in line with the guidelines of the UGC which were issued in view of the Coronavirus pandemic. The decision has ended the uncertainty which was prevailing over the conduct of examination for some time.
“There will be no end term exams for the current semester and the previous semesters where exams were due during the lockdown period. The students will be promoted to the next semester based on internal assessment in tune with UGC guidelines,” KU said in a statement, adding that the Heads of Departments in consultation with their respective Departmental Committees will decide the mode of internal assessment.
The decision was taken in a special meeting of the Advisory cum Monitoring Committee, constituted by the Vice-Chancellor under the chairmanship of the Dean of Academic Affairs. “Today’s special meeting was presided over by the Vice Chancellor KU Prof Talat Ahmad and we took the decision keeping in view the interests of the students. Their happiness is our happiness and we are always with them,” Dean Academic Affairs, Akbar Masood told Excelsior.
He was also heading the committee which was constituted to assess, monitor and devise a strategy or roadmap for conduct of examinations. Besides, it was also asked to devise the academic calendar under the prevalent conditions and formulate a plan for admission to various courses for the academic session 2020.
The students welcomed the decision and said it had relieved them from the mental stress that was caused by the indecisiveness of the Varsity. “It came a bit late but they have taken the decision in our favour. We are happy with the decision,” a student said.
The students have been continuously requesting the Varsity to follow the UGC guidelines but a cold shoulder from the administration had plunged them in despair. “We even boycotted the online classes and submission of examination forms to register our protest,” a student said.
Last week the concerned HoDS held consultations with the students wherein the students put forth their demand. “They assured us that our interests will be taken under consideration. We are student friendly. We will come with a solution soon,” another student recalled.
The University had also decided to continue the online classes of the current semesters till 15th August 2020. “The teachers have been asked to take online classes on regular basis and also carry the internal assessment during the semester in tune with the strategy devised by their respective departments. The teachers shall keep a proper record of the classes held and the internal assessment conducted,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor had advised the departments to procure Smart Phones and Note Pads for needy students, “The devices can be issued to the needy students and collected back after use,” Masood said.