VC reaches out, Registrar makes repeated appeal, students of Assam Univ refuses dialogue & stands by their demand of online exam

Feb. 15: With the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, there has been major temporal changes in almost every aspect of human life, which was ofcourse never desirable. To make the wheel of civilisation moving on, the Government took several interim measures. One such step in the arena of academics during the pandemic was online mode of learning. Well, when the entire nation was in the grip of high rate of Covid-19 infection in 2020-21, life was given much more preference than livelihood. However, as the number of cases have come down drastically, both the central and the state (Assam) government has announced to Unlock and resume normalcy.

It was at this juncture that on Tuesday morning some students of the Undergraduate level (UG) of Assam University suddenly blocked the main entrance and sat for protest demonstration in front of the main gate. With placards in their hands, slogans were raised against the University authorities by the agitating students. From the Vice Chancellor to the staff, all got struck outside the main gate of the campus. It was then that the Proctor, Dr. Himadri Das, Dr Anindya Syam Choudhury along with few other faculty members came to talk with the agitating students. They urged upon the students to sit for discussion, which was rejected by them.

Later on during the day, a 2nd appeal letter was issued by the Registrar of Assam University wherein five  representatives of the agitating students were asked to come to the old guest house of Assam University at 3.30 PM (15 February) to discuss the matter. Further, the students were appealed by the Registrar to vacate the University gate to enable normal functioning of the university. However, the agitating students rejected even the 2nd appeal and stick to their demand of conducting the exams in online mode.

As it is said, “If the mountain doesn’t come to the Prophet, the Prophet must go to the mountain,” the same thing happened during the day at the agitation site. When the agitating students rejected the 2nd appeal made by the University authorities, the new Vice Chancellor, Prof. RM Pant himself reached out to the students. While appealing to them, Prof Pant said, “This is not a situation of either you win or I loose or vice versa. We are together, we are a family. You may have your grievances against individuals, but this University is ours. Please don’t raise slogans like ‘Assam University Hai Hai’. This is our temple, mosque or church. We all should strive to make our University a top class one. There is no problem which doesn’t have any solution. We shall all sit together and find out a solution. University basically exists to groom our students. I know that it is very convenient to go for online exams, but at the same time, we need to realise the consequences also.” However, even the appeal for a dialogue made by the Vice Chancellor failed to break the ice and students continued with their agitation.

Later on, expressing their views, the students said, “We were asked by the teachers to send our representatives for discussion. But we won’t be going for any such discussion as we are common students without any leaders. We have already given memorandum twice in this regard to hold the exam in online mode. Due to pandemic our courses have not been completed. If at all exams are to be taken in offline mode, then classes should be conducted for atleast 2 months and only then exams ought to be taken.” They also said that in some departments exams will be conducted in online mode, but in others it was notified to take the exams in offline mode. They regarded it as a discrimination against them.

The students who sat for agitation informed that they will continue their protest demonstration on Wednesday. Meanwhile, members of Karimganj district NSUI convened a press meet on Tuesday and expressed solidarity with those who sat for protest in front of the University. The press meet was addressed by Joy Prakash Das, Robin Namasudra and Bishal Dutta of Karimganj NSUI.

It is pertinent to take note of the fact that University Grants Commission (UGC) in a notification issued on 11 February, 2022 stated that “Keeping in view the situation of Covid-19 in their respective region, the Higher Education Institutions may open campuses,conduct classes and examinations in offline/ online/ blended mode following COVID appropriate behaviour and necessary protocols/ guidelines/ directions/ advisories issued by the Central/ State Governments or competent authorities from time to time.”

Citing this notification, the agitating students further raised the demand of conducting their odd semester examinations in online mode. As a counter argument, one of the University authorities saidd that the UGC specifically stated that the decision of conducting offline classes and exams is region specific and will depend on the directions issued by the concerned state government. Assam Government also through a notification issued on 14 February stated that as the Covid cases in the state has declined substantially, so all curbs imposed earlier including night curfew stands withdrawn from 15 February. All educational institutions shall also function in offline mode from 15 February.

So,finally will the exams be taken in offline or online mode? Well, at a time, when the Covid cases have come down drastically in the state, it will be a wait and watch to see the moves made by the students and University authority on this issue on Wednesday.