SRINAGAR: The students of Cluster University Srinagar (CUS) are in stress as the authorities of the varsity have decided to hold end semester examinations various undergraduate and integrated courses amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
A group of 6th Semester students said that excluding them from the mass promotion orders on the basis of internal assessments by University authorities is the matter of grave concern.
In a detailed statement, the students of 6th semester said that they completely reject and deny the university`s plan of conducting exams, in letter and spirit.
The students in a statement said that the notification seems irrational and uninformed about the terrible health crisis which the country is going through.
“It is dangerous especially because it puts the lives of thousands of students and staff at risk,” the students said.
“Ever since August 5 2019, the amount of academic loss suffered by the college students is unbearable and can’t be accounted for. With minimum readings and a 2G internet, a student can’t be expected to excel. The month of May witnessed a number of internet shutdowns alone,” they said.
“With almost no internet connection available to many students living in various districts, the online classes have been missed on, many pdf`s can’t be downloaded,” they added.
“The syllabus in no way is completed because it was left to the student`s alone to read and deal with the subject. One can’t expect a student to understand his/her subjects from pdf`s alone,” students in a statement said.
“The new exam pattern decided by the university deals with MCQ`s based question paper with 60 questions. Such a system poses its own risks and weaknesses. It does not compensate the academic depth a student has to go through with no resources available. Its accounts to a fear of failure and scoring less,” they said.
The aggrieved students demanded that the university must re-think about its decisions.
They demanded that the university should promote them on internal assessment reports and on their previous semester grades.
When contacted Vice-chancellor, Cluster University, Dr Sheikh Javaid said as per the UGC guidelines they have decided to hold examinations of the final semester students and promote the intermediate semester to the next semester on the basis of internal assessments.
He said there will be multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and students will be asked to attempt 60 MCQs in 70 minutes.
Dr Javaid said the examination will be held in two shifts to avoid overcrowding in the centres and all measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus will be followed in letter and spirit.
