Editor,
With the second wave of the Corona Virus gripping the country and our State, it is affecting every aspect of our lives, and our mental health is being punched and bruised from every angle. We are under constant pressure and fear. And living in such perilous times the teachers and students find no respite. Online modes of learning have completely changed the teacher-student interface and ultimately the learning process and for that, neither the teachers nor the students can be blamed. Life must go on but during such perilous times as a parent, some decency and consideration is expected from an educational institution.
The notification issued by the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) on April 23. 2021 says that the Post Graduate (PG) second-semester students are to complete their courses roughly within two months and that is putting immense pressure on the PG students and the teachers to complete the freshly started semester by the end of July and the exams are set to be held in August. With open book examinations, many might say that exams have become easier but I have noticed that for the students who are keen on really learning and absorbing their courses, it has become really difficult to read, process, and present an entire course which normally takes about 3-4 months to finish, in such a short span.
Online learning with all its benefits has its demerits too. It has chained down students with worry and stress. Families are affected and many have lost their source of income due to the pandemic. Many students are in situations where they have to choose between aiding their families or attending the demands of the courses. People are dying, many of whom are family and friends. Living amidst a global pandemic, we cannot ignore many such events and I believe, the same goes for the PG students and teachers. The main purpose of Education’s is to educate individuals within society, to prepare and qualify them for work and the betterment of the society but more importantly to teach them values and morals on how to be humane and considerate towards the plight of the young adults.
On enquiry, I have found that Delhi University started their second semester in April and are having their Exams by end of July or the first week of August. Assam Don Bosco University started their classes in April and are having exams by the last week of July. Manipur University is still in their first semester; Guwahati University is currently giving their first semester exams and Mizoram University started their second semester in February and will have their exams in July. Therefore, if other Universities can give ample time to their students and teachers, why not North-Eastern Hill University?
I fear for the worst when I see so many young adults chained down and worried about completing their courses and about their future amidst a global pandemic.
Therefore, as a parent I humbly urge the Academic Council to be more considerate and understanding towards the students and be more empathetic in giving enough time for students and teachers to complete the courses.
Yours etc.,
Johnson Lauseng,
Via email
Getting a vax slot equal to winning lottery
Editor,
Data in today’s day and age is immensely important. Better decisions can be made through careful scientific analysis of the same. Hence companies put a great deal of effort into acquiring all sorts of data about their users. It has become such that many even shell out hard earned money to procure data from other companies to further their own interests. The numbers trending the grapevines lately are 345, 319 and 26. These numbers suggest that the vaccine is a vital weapon in the immune system’s arsenal in fighting against the ongoing pandemic. This backs the Government’s efforts in vaccinating the population.
However, the Centre’s mandate for mandatory registration through their CoWIN application is appalling. One of the reasons is because a digital India is still years away from reality, especially when it comes to rural areas. There is a big digital divide in our country. Meghalaya with its electricity outage poses another problem altogether, as one needs a computer, a laptop or a smart phone, with charge that is, to register and make the booking. The second reason is that despite being able to register up to four persons with a singular phone number, one has to book slots on an individual basis. This drastically adds to the time required in making a booking and the resources it takes to get each individual to the designated place to get the vaccine administered.
Time as we know is not a luxury that can be afforded when on the application. Resources are also hard to come by, especially during this time for many of us. The third reason is the stress and patience involved in booking a slot through the application. I have personally waited weeks and am yet to avail a booking for the first jab and am sure that there are many alike. There are those who would argue that there are ways of overcoming this challenge. However they should keep in mind that not everyone is as savvy with technology as the few who are capable of finding their way around these challenges.
If getting vaccinated is critical in our efforts against this virus, why are the concerned authorities making it so difficult for the common man to get the required vaccine? Should it not be the other way round? The only plausible reason that comes to mind, in regards to mandatory registrations through CoWIN, is that the executive authorities can easily collect data on the vaccinated populace, for reasons one can only make speculation on. Data is required and is vital for decision making. The sad reality is that this particular data, in the way it is being collected, seems to come at a very huge price. As was mentioned in the Shillong Times, dated June 3, 2021, out of 345 deaths in the State due to Covid, 319 were not vaccinated. This tells its own story!
Yours etc.,
Balajied A Jana,
Via email