Cluster University: Students appeal authorities to hold Online Exam. Read Here what has been decided now

Srinagar, Sep 30: The students of the 1st semester from Cluster University on Thursday urged the university administration to hold online exams amid an increase in numbers of Covid-19 cases in Srinagar.

The students held a protest and while chanting “We want justice” and “We want online examination” in Press Enclave Srinagar here, appealed to university authorities to revisit its decision regarding the conduct of online examinations.

“The authorities of Cluster University recently made the date sheet public which surprised the student community who had been directed to appear in offline examination amid the possible third wave of the pandemic,” a student told Rising Kashmir.

He said at a time when authorities are declaring many city parts as micro containment and red zones, how can university authorities take the risk with the lives of students while directing them to be appearing via offline mode.

“The third wave of the pandemic has started to knock on our doors. Many areas have witnessed a spurt in virus, so the decision of conducting offline mode of examination seems to be taken in haste,” he said.

Another student said the student community is not fully vaccinated and there is no mechanism in place in campuses to check who has received the jabs. “We can’t put our lives at risk in a congested environment. How can we appear in exams when authorities on the other side are imposing restrictions for containment of the situation,” he said.

Terming the decision of authorities “unfair”, the protesting students requested the concerned vice-chancellor to revisit the decision and hold an online mode of examination for the safety of students.

Meanwhile, Examination Controller Cluster University Prof. Khurshid Ahmad Mir told Rising Kashmir the University authorities have divided the session into two shifts – morning and evening – and during both sessions, all SOPs related to Covid-19 would be taken care of.

He said the colleges have been reopened on the directions of the Government and added, “If any further order comes to fore from the Government, it will be abided in letter and spirit”.

He said many students submitted a representation for postponing the examination and the university authorities are going to take a call on it. “We have convened a meeting of all Principals where rescheduling of the offline mode of examination will be discussed if there is any possibility,” he added.