What’s The Current Situation
Senior high school and university students are facing a challenge in their education regarding examination and evaluation of their academic year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many universities of India have released a tentative date sheet of annual and semester exams for the students.
Many universities are in favour of online exams keeping in view the lockdown and the resultant restricted movement at the borders, non-operation of public transport and railways, and strict need to follow social distancing. Conducting offline exams right now would be putting lives at risk.
Many students, who came from distant places to study, already went to their native places because of the advisory released for the students before the official lockdown. Those who couldn’t or didn’t go earlier due to certain reasons, went back after the Shramik special trains were started to help stuck migrants and students to reach their home safely.
Since the trains, inter-state bus service, local public transport, metro trains are not functional or fully functional right now, it is not only difficult to travel to the institutions but also dangerous and risky for the lives of students and their families because of the risk of COVID-19 and the rising number of cases coming up day by day.
Students belonging to the first year, sophomore year or subsequent or final year are concerned for their examination, evaluation method, mode of exam conduction, etc. but most of all, they are concerned that their academic year should not get wasted. Nobody wants to lag one whole year behind in their academic curriculum. The final year students are the ones who are suffering the most.
The government and individual universities are even coming up with possible solutions from time to time, to which the public also share their own suggestions and opinions. The students, as well as the universities, are suggesting different ways of conducting the exams. Again, this becomes a matter of heated debate because everyone has their own needs, convenience and facilities to appear for a certain mode of exam.
What Options Do We Have?
Online Exams
As mentioned above, many universities have released an exam date sheet for online exams. For example, Delhi University date sheet has been released for an open-book online exam. On the date of the exam, the question paper will be made available on the college website for which the answers have to be written on A4 size paper, scanned and uploaded within two hours.
The government has even made arrangements of computer centres to remain open in rural areas to allow students to participate in online exams, as per Delhi University norms. Those who still could not appear for online exams can later appear for offline one when the situation gets under control.
The entire concept of online examination is getting multi-opinionated response. Some students support online exams while some are against it and share their relevant reasons.
According to the survey published in The Hindu, 72.2% of surveyed students have connectivity issues. More than 74% of students of Delhi University participated in the survey conducted by the All India Student Union (AISA). Regarding the availability of smartphone and computers, 62.6% students responded that they did; however, 72.2% of them had connectivity issues and could not attend the online classes. 11.6% said they could not attend due to financial issues and 7.6% could not because of household chores.
In another survey, over 60% students of Ramjas College, University of Delhi, that participated stated that they do not have a stable high-speed internet connection to be able to proceed with online exams, while 40% of survey-takers of Lady Shri Ram College For Women stated that they do not have stable electricity connection.
Keeping in view the results of surveys from various bodies, National Student Union body Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) is also bringing to light the problems faced by students with respect to online exams and also giving suggestions for the same. They are demanding that online examination should not be conducted and are highlighting its various ill-effects to the students, as they are the ones who are directly affected by this decision of the authorities.
Furthermore, a considerably large number of students do not have their books and notes with them right now as they left them in their hostels, while many depend on libraries. Not all books have PDF or Ebooks available on the internet. Due to the inaccessibility of study material, personal notes and other reasons, students are not supporting online examination.
Cancellation Of Exams (And Evaluation On The Basis Of Previous Tests)
Some groups of students are in favour of cancelling the exams altogether, which is definitely not the solution to the current scenario.
While many hold the opinion that exams should be cancelled and evaluation should be done on the basis of assignments submitted for internal, sessional and practical exams previously held.
A major group of students are in favour that exam of all years should be skipped and evaluation be done on the basis previous year(s) or semester(s) results, including for the final-year students.
However, the final year students and repeaters/students appearing for improvement are not in favour and believe exams should be conducted.
Major arguments against cancellation of exams are in case of professional courses and science courses where practical knowledge is an integral part of the curriculum. The students of professional courses demand practical skills, and such an evaluation would not make up to the requirement of the concerned curriculum. In fact, it would be absurd because students will not acquire the knowledge that they were meant to learn. Also their skills will not be tested or evaluated properly, as per by conventional methods and requirement in their profession which would make them suitable to be hired in the future.
Offline Exams
Some universities, including Indraprastha University, have released a tentative date sheet for offline exams; some of them starting from last week of June itself for courses such as B.Ed. However, the date sheet was removed from their site as they received a number of complaints from the students and their parents.
On the other hand, some universities have released a date sheet for offline exams in July. All of the universities have mentioned that the dates are subject to revision or cancellation keeping in view the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of cases and orders from higher authorities.
Some universities have even suggested conducting offline exams only in cases of professional courses for which evaluation through online mode is non-preferable and the curriculum requires practical knowledge in laboratories that online mode of study can never replace. Since practicals are necessary to be performed for practical knowledge, professional skill and market value, some universities suggested that examination can be conducted in offline mode only at a later time when the situation is normal, even if it is months later or the exams are conducted near the beginning of the next academic year.
The multi-opinion issue is a burning topic these days, particularly for the students because this is the period of the year when annual or semester examination should have been going on but are now delayed due to lockdown. The final decision will be made on the basis of the situation, number of cases and control over the pandemic.
Authorities and universities are inviting suggestions from the students and parents. The government, universities and authorities are coming up with the best possible solutions that benefit the students of all courses and curriculum, particularly the ones in the final year, so that their year is not wasted, and they can carry on with their education and career ahead.