SHILLONG: The state government is in all likelihood going to seek a postponement of UGC exams scheduled to be completed within September 30. Official level consultations between the government and NEHU are already underway and the indications are that rescheduling of the examinations is now inevitable. A firm decision to approach UGC in this regard will be taken on Monday.
Donald P. Wahlang, Principal Secretary, Education, told this correspondent that the government had consultations with NEHU on Friday.
“We will take a final call on Monday (Aug 31) after seeing the proposal by NEHU and also after consulting the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). The Supreme Court orders are clear that states need to consult their respective SDMAs. Based on the assessment of SDMA we shall seek postponement of examinations from the UGC,” Wahlang said.
A member of the NEHU Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) said that while the Association has not officially said anything on the issue of examinations it has made public its views on the difficulties of conducting online classes and exams.
“Our students are so spread out and some are beyond reach of internet connectivity, so much so we had to encapsulate our classes in slots of 5-10 minutes at a time. In any case UGC, is only an advisory body and its decisions cannot be made mandatory.”
Vice Chancellor, Martin Luther Christian University, Dr Vincent Darlong, when asked if the University would conduct the examins as scheduled, said that the University follows the continuous assessment process and does not have end of semester examinations. “Since the lockdown, students have been given online assignments. The faculty have coached students and guided them on their field work. Rural students that do not have access to stable internet connectivity have written their assignments and sent them via WhatsApp.
On Friday Aug 28 the Supreme Court came up with the verdict that students cannot be promoted without sitting for their examinations and that while states can cancel the examinations scheduled for September this year, they would have to approach the University Grants Commission to extend the deadline beyond the September 30.
College and University students across the country have raised the banner of protest against what they describe as a decision that “reeks of insensitivity” of the Union Ministry of Education. They wonder if exams are more important than their health.
In Meghalaya too the students of NEHU have started voicing their concern.