Youth Congress express grievance on TDC exam notification issued by Assam University

May 31: Amidst the ongoing nationwide lockdown augmented by the outbreak of coronavirus, Assam University, Silchar has come up with a new academic calendar for Under Graduate (UG) (CBCS & Non-CBCS in Affiliated Colleges) on 12 May, 2020. As per the notification, TDC Non-CBCS Even Semester Examinations will begin from 7 July, 2020 and will continue till 25 July, 2020. The examination for TDC CBCS 2nd & 4th semester will be held from 27 July to 12 August. This notification has led to great resentment among the student community.

In this connection, Silchar Assembly Youth Congress Committee submitted a memorandum to the Vice Chancellor of Assam University, Silchar. In view of the current pandemic situation, the ‘abrupt decision’ of submission of form and conduct of examination was regarded by the Youth Congress to be a halfhearted step without taking into consideration the ground realities.

The memorandum raised severe doubts on the ongoing mode of online education during the lockdown. The Youth Congress highlighted the fact that as the pandemic happened all of a sudden, the course contents of all the subjects in all colleges were left incomplete. The issue of internet connectivity in Barak Valley and the hills under the jurisdiction of Assam University was also highlighted in the memorandum. The poor net connectivity stands as a bar in proper dissemination of online lessons. Moreover, they also made it a point that even where online classes were imparted, it was not possible to incorporate all students. Students belonging to poor families were also excluded from these online classes.

Further, the Youth Congress also pointed out that the parents of a large number of students who work in shops and other small private enterprise are without their salary or pay cut. Many even who own small business/ shops had to put their stutter down for 2 long months. Many whose parents are daily wage earners were also without work and many. In this connection, the Youth Congress stated that it would be very difficult for such students to pay the examination fees at this juncture or to recharge data for online classes. They urged upon the university authority to defer the exam and decrease the fees. Speaking in this connection, Kushal Dutta, President of Silchar Assembly Youth Congress Committee said, “Extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary decisions. So I request Assam University to think over the issues raised by us and take appropriate decisions.”

Youth Congress also highlighted the fact that most of the students have left their books and study documents in hostels and PGs after the lockdown was announced. Keeping in mind the prevailing lockdown, how is it possible for students to access these materials? They further wrote that those students who have gone back to their home states like Tripura, Mizoram etc are in more turmoil because the moment they come back to Assam, they will be sent for strict quarantine of 14 days. Moreover, many colleges have been requisitioned by the administration as quarantine centres and none can say as to how long these centres would perform.

Assuming that the university is planning to conduct offline mode of examination, the Youth Congress wrote, “We  are really concerned about the safety of students in this regard. If for instance, a student gets affected by COVID-19 on his way to Silchar from neighboring states, who shall be held accountable for this? Also to maintain social distancing in exam centers, seating arrangements should be made in a way so that students should be made to seat maintaining distance as suggested by the government. This again will require more number of classrooms as compared to what is required in usual cases. We are apprehensive as  to what extent colleges are in a position to accommodate so many students by maintaining distance.

In the backdrop of the points stated herein, Silchar Assembly Youth Congress Committee urged upon the Vice Chancellor to give a patient hearing to all these subtle aspects before taking any concrete decision regarding finalising exam dates or submission of forms or determine the quantum of syllabus.