Delhi University Teacher’s Association (DUTA) wrote letter to Vice chancellor Yogesh Tyagi to withdraw the decision to postpone final year semester exams and Scrap Open book exams.
It is extremely distressing that the University is repeatedly failing its students and teachers by taking thoughtless and irresponsible decisions. Today’s notification issued by the Dean, Examinations, announcement regarding the postponement of OBE for ten days in view of the prevailing situation of COVID 19 pandemic” has created more stress and anguish for students. The absolute lack of concern for the mental and physical wellbeing of students on the part of the University administration is shocking.
Also read : AAD condemns over Online exams and Decision to Postpone exams
The postponement of the exam for ten days citing the increase in COVID cases suggests that the University believes that the situation is going to miraculously improve in this period. We wonder if this is only a cynical ploy to cover up for its failings and to gloss over its unpreparedness for carrying out the online process. The least one expects from the University is an honest admission of its unpreparedness. There are more than 4 lakh students who lives and career are at stake and we demand that the University immediately cancels the OBE without pushing students to more uncertainties.
Also read : Delhi University Postponed OBE, Exams to begin from 10 July
The University Community fails to comprehend why holding OBE is more important for you than the future and the mental and physical well-being of our students. The DUTA.
along with students, has repeatedly written to you to reconsider your position on holding examinations for terminal semester/ year given the difficult situations in which students find themselves. The incomplete teaching-learning process due to lack of institutional help, resources and connectivity, uneven accessibility to e-resources, environment at home and loss of livelihood and dear ones because of the pandemic are all realities for most of them. The OBE is highly discriminatory towards those who have not had equal access and is bound to put undue strain on students and households in these difficult times. It erodes the sanctity of the examination process, is open to unfair means and will penalise honest students. Further, the decision of the OBE was taken in an undemocratic manner and in total violation of the Statute 8 (XII).
It is equally shocking that the University has ignored all the concerns raised in representations sent by Deans. Hots, teachers and students. Even as many Central Universities and other institutions of higher education chose to adopt alternate modes of evaluation in response to today’s ground realities, the University has remained oblivious to what is happening in the country.
The University has also ignored the HRD Minister’s public statement on 24.6.2020 advising the UGC to revisit the guidelines lowes earlier for Intermediate terminal year students keeping in mind health and safety of students and taft
Reports have also appeared in leading newspapers that the UGC Committee has recommended the cancellation of exams. However, the University administration has remained impervious to the fact that our students are facing very difficult situations as many of them are stranded. quarantined and are battling with COVID-19 infections for sell and their family members. Many students have reported that the Common Service Centres (CSC are not functional or are not maintained. By forcing students to travel to these Centers to take the ONE examinations, the University is putting their lives and that of their families to great risk. COVID cases are on exponential rise, with Dell as one of the most affected States. Many areas in Delhi have been declared containment ones and some college premises are being used as COVID care centers
In the light of the above, we categorically reiterate our demand that the OBE be immediately scrapped and all exams cancelled. We hope that you will earnestly consider this appeal and not increase the misery of our students whose lives me extremely vulnerable Delhi university students and teachers do not deserve this ill treatment Generations of teachers, kurucus and students have worked towards building the University and loving it the status it has today Their voices must be beard and their health and safety cannot be compromised.
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