GUWAHATI, July 15 - The SFI Assam State Committee has opposed the recent UGC guidelines that made exams mandatory. On July 6, UGC issued guidelines that exams must be held either through online or offline mode within September.
Nirangkush Nath, general secretary, SFI Assam State Committee said in a statement it is impossible to conduct offline exams in the prevailing situation, while the online mode will deprive a majority of students. Alternative modes of evaluation such as a combination of assignments, projects, etc., can be charted out in consultation with educationists, he added, even as he resented the HRD Ministry�s authoritarian role in this regard.
The SFI leader also expressed surprise at the decision of Gauhati University to collect examination fees from students during the ongoing pandemic. While the GU�s online process of filling up forms for UG students is going on, payment of fees for UG-level semester examinations has become very difficult for the students due to the current economic crisis, which has more or less affected every section of society. Nath said it is illogical to take examination fees from students now. He urged GU to stop charging examination fees.
Nath has also sought an increase in the number of seats at the colleges and universities of the State. He said due to the absence of adequate numbers of seats at a large number of the State�s colleges and universities, every year there is a hue and cry at admission time. The situation is likely to aggravate because a large number of students aiming to study outside the State will be taking admission at the local colleges due to the pandemic. The CBSE students will also add up, he pointed out, arguing that in such a scenario, the government must take steps to increase the number of seats at the universities.
Nath also resented the decision of the Gauhati University and Tezpur University not to hold entrance examinations for admission into the next academic session. GU and Tezpur University had declared on June 29 and July 7 respectively that entrance examinations for admission into the next academic session will not be conducted. Nath urged the universities to reconsider the decision as it will be an injustice on the students. It is worth mentioning that both the universities usually conduct entrance examinations for admission into UG and PG courses every year and meritorious students are selected through this process. Tezpur University has declared vide a notification that due to the ongoing crisis situation caused by COVID-19, entrance examination will not be conducted and marksheet of the last qualifying examination has to be submitted before July 31. In the current situation no college has been able to conduct examination of UG level. In such a situation it is not feasible to submit marksheets before July 31, he said. Nath said the universities should reconsider their decision as UG exams of colleges have not been held till now. Meanwhile, SFI observed �Demand Day� over its demands in the State on Tuesday.
