Site icon The Kashmiriyat

Jeopardizing Student Lives amid Pandemic

News Desk

Samreen Tak

While world is gripped in the panic of deadly Coronavirus outbreak, students in Indian states are coping with anxiety
over uncertain end semester examinations. Amid closure of educational institutions, authorities have recently issued a notice to their respective students to prepare for examinations in the month of July or September.

So far, few Universities stepped forward to cancel its examinations like on July 15, Delhi Technological University DTU said it is cancelling its end semester examinations citing the spike in cases of Covid- 19 in Delhi capital.

Final year students from various Universities of Nation are apprehensive about examinations and are requesting the authorities to cancel the same this year. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has recently sent a letter to Indian Prime Minister requesting him to cancel the final semester examinations of all Universities which come under the jurisdiction of Centre.

Kejriwal urged the PM Modi for cancellation of examination for the sake of the future of students. The letter was being sent after the University Grants Commission in their recent issued guidelines proposed to conduct the final year examinations in the month of September.

After UGC released the revised guidelines for conducting final year examinations in the month of September across the Nation, students resorted to twitter and other social media handles to express their anger and demanded cancellation of examinations.

Fearful due to the spike in cases of Coronavirus, twitter is seen flooded with hashtags like #cancelfinalyearexams #studentlivesmatter. Many professors from various varsities were seen tweeting in support of students.

On July 12, students organised a National Protest against UGC guidelines under the All India Forum to Save
Public Education. Students from various Universities of India sit on 4-day protest asking varsities to cancel examinations.

Students also burned the UGC guidelines in protest. This protest also put in Twitter storm and mass mails to
MHRD. Virtual protests also included sharing of videos on social media. Government must not take the decisions on
behalf of students, in this pandemic when every country is finding ways to survive with crisis, our Government cannot risk the lives of students for the sake of conducting examinations.

Student lives matter, as stated by students across India. Students participated vigorously in nationwide protests. Taking exams in these arduous times is not justified, there can be other solutions as well but at the same time
risking the lives of students and putting them in jeopardy is the worst. Examinations can be conducted post pandemic too.

It can be difficult to travel in this pandemic and talking about accessing technology, 70% of Indian population lives in rural areas without having technological knowledge of how to use android mobile phones or any other technology. Also, the students hailing from Himalayan region of Jammu Kashmir where 4G internet services have been banned from last 11 months could not make it to appear in online Open Book examinations.

Those students who came back from hostels in hurry to their hometowns in the course of lockdown left most
of their study materials and books in their hostel rooms are now debilitated. India is already fighting with mental health crisis simultaneously; all this would further deteriorate the situation for the youth. Students are the backbone of every nation, and leaving them with such distressed situation is unjust.

Government must think for the future of these students when Covid-19 cases are rising sharply. The recent report by WHO explained that Coronavirus can be airborne too and people without symptoms may spread virus too. India is third worst hit country in world, these problems need to be tackled straight away and examinations shall be  conducted post pandemic.

This unplanned move has already alienated a large number of ‘digital have nots. Only a handful number of students are enough privileged to take exams. Only 24% of households in India possess smartphones. Education remains
an important concern since the pandemic lockdown started.

Talking to The Kashmiriyat, Irshad Hussain who is pursuing Convergent Journalism in Central University of Kashmir stated that holding final year examinations in September is a futile move on the part of UGC. If they wanted to do so, they should reduce the syllabi that can eventually relieve the sufferings. Moreover, this is not the feasible time to conduct exams, he further added.

Idrees Mujtaba, professor Aligarh Muslim University while talking to The Kashmiriyat articulated that UGC as a body is also having some obligations and procedures to watch for.

They are an organised team of professors and academicians who have a clear eye on the pros and cons of their directives.
buy avapro generic buy avapro generic

He further added, ‘that guidelines have been changed many times for the Covid crisis and I don’t deem it final even this time’.

We need to watch patiently amidst keeping ourselves and others safe. Furthermore, student lives matter and solution
will be satisfactory for both parties.

We believe that the race must begin with similar strengths and from the same point. Under these pandemic circumstances, students are no more equal as they face varied situations in terms of psychology, technology and study material. It is quite unfair to conduct exams when privilege defines strengths and region imposes restrictions. Any examination under these circumstances will never judge the competence of students says Shafat Maqbool, PhD scholar from Kashmir.

While talking about Kashmiri students, he said, “students who are allowed to access internet services with 2G speed must not be forced to sit in online exams with the students having 4G internet services. IITs and other premier Universities have already cancelled examinations, and it is only regressive institutions that are testing students in
pandemic and simultaneously ignoring the inequalities”.

All this is going to add to the sufferings of students leading to depression and anxiety. Recent flooding in Assam and
North eastern states has worsened the situation Government must think about the future of these students who are not even able to put their opinions, these students are no way equal to students from other parts of India. Maharashtra cabinet Minister Aditya Thackeray on 18 July filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the decision of the UGC to conduct final year examinations.

There is nationwide demand to scrap final year university examinations due to the surge in Covid-19 cases.

The Kashmiriyat is now on Google play. Download the App HERE

Exit mobile version