Offline examination for TDC students; protests in all three districts of Barak Valley

Students from across the Barak Valley districts have launched a protest against an order issued by Assam University which makes it mandatory for TDC (non-CBCS) even semester students to take qualifying examination offline from 29th September.

According to the notice, released on 11th September, final examination 2020 of the terminal semester of the Academic department of the University shall be in online mode. However, the TDC final semester examination of the affiliated colleges shall be held in offline mode.

With COVID cases daily making a record in the country, the idea of conducting offline examinations has irked the students.

Pointing out the rising trend of COVID cases in the state, students alleged that the college authorities are not worried about the safety of students. “There is no clear sign of sooner relief from COVID rage and the college authorities are issuing notice for offline examination. If by chance any single student enters examination centre with being COVID infected, the situation will turn worrisome,” warned Sourav Deb a student of GC College.

The students on Friday demonstrated outside GC College in Silchar and later submitted a memorandum to the college principal demanding the college to opt for online mode of examination considering the rising trend of COVID cases.

“Assam University is conducting online examination for UG/PG students of the university campus, why can’t they do the same for TDC students,” asked Deb.

Biswaroop Bhattacherjee, President of Assam University Student’s Union on Friday in a message to the students of the varsity, wrote that despite continuous efforts by the union, the university didn’t agree to conduct of TDC final year examinations online. “In case of TDC students, University is ready to take the exam in online mode but the maximum colleges are not willing. They have opposed to the concept of examination in online mode….. Now you need to pressurise the college authorities because as the university doesn’t have any problem,” Bhattacherjee stated.

“AUS, for its own students, is conducting online mode exam and for other affiliated colleges it is offline, why such separate treatment? We want the university to give a choice of both online and offline exam to students and it’s on the latter to decide what they opt for,” said another student on anonymity.

On Saturday, students from many colleges jointly staged a demonstration outside Hailakandi SS College demanding the same. Students warned a greater protest on Monday if demands are not accepted.

The Barak Valley TDC Student’s union on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the Cachar Deputy Commissioner requesting to conduct “Online/home-based open book exam for TDC non-CBCS examination 2020.”

According to the UGC guidelines, “The final year examinations will be conducted by the universities or institutions by the end of September in offline, online or blended mode.”