After AOC of exam branch of Cachar College, TDC student of GC College now tests +ve

April 18: After an Assistant Officer-in-charge (AOC) of the Exam section of Cachar College, tested COVID-19 positive in the midst of ongoing TDC (CBCS) Odd Semester Examination, the deadly virus has now cast its spell among the students also. On Sunday, a TDC 1st semester student of Chemistry Honours of GC College, Silchar was detected as coronavirus positive.

Infact, the student after appearing in his honours examination on 12 April exhibited symptoms akin to coronavirus. The student, a resident of Kalain in Cachar went for Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) at Kalain Health Centre. On 18 April, he was detected as Covid-19 positive in RAT test. The onduty doctor at Kalain advised the student on 18 April to go for strict home isolation for 24 days. He is at present suffering from fever and has also lost taste for food. He is now under medication at his home in Kalain.

The student has already appeared in two of his honours papers (Chemistry) on 9 & 12 April, 2021. His two more examinations are on 7 May (Physics) and 11 May (AECC ENG). As per the doctor’s advice, he is to remain in strict home isolation for 24 days, that is, till 12 May, 2021. As such, it will not be possible on the part of that boy to come to GC College, Silchar from his home at Kalain and sit for his two remaining examinations on 7 & 11 May.

Expressing grief, the student expressed the view that, if the Assam University authorities and the College Principals agreed to the demand of the students to conduct the TDC examination in blended mode, then he could have easily appeared in the rest of the two papers from his home at Kalain in online mode. He further added that as the University and College Principals did not accept the demand of the students, so his career would be at stake.

Meanwhile, when contacted over telephone, Dr. Suprabir Dutta Roy, Controller of Examinations of Assam University said, “At the most, the student would be in home isolation for 14 days, so he could very well appear in the remaining two exams on 7 & 11 May.” He further stated that he has communicated with the Principal of GC College and suggested that the student be allowed to appear in the rest two exams in an isolated room. He also dismissed any such apprehension of other students of GC College getting contaminated from that COVID-19 positive case.

However, the suggestion provided by the Controller of Examination seems to go against the prescription of that particular student who was advised in writing by the treating doctor to go for “24 days strict home isolation” . When way2barak contacted, the Principal of GC College, Silchar, he did not receive the call. Meanwhile, Chandan Paul Choudhury, Central Executive Committee Member (CECM) of Cachar Zone,  Assam College Teachers’ Association (ACTA) also expressed strong reaction. He said, “The students are very tensed at this moment. We cannot just risk the lives of our students. Assam University authorities and the College Principals should take immediate preventive measures and explore other possibilities of conducting the remaining papers.”

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