Delhi University decides to postpone online exams by 10 days

NEW DELHI: After several days of uncertainty, Delhi University on Saturday announced that it would postpone its online open book exams (OBE) from July 1 to July 10. The university also announced that the mock OBE would now take place on July 4.
“Examinations scheduled for all final semester/term/year and ex-students of all streams of UG and PG, including SOL and NCWEB, stand postponed for 10 days in view of the prevailing situation of Covid-19 pandemic,” stated a notification issued by the DU examination branch on Saturday.
DU claimed that under the prevailing situation, “all concerned stakeholders, especially students, may find it difficult to attend their scheduled activities of examinations.”
The new date sheet will come out by July 3 and the basic guidelines for the exam and the facilities of ICT infrastructure available at Common Service Centre engaged by the university shall continue as it is, the notification added.
The announcement from DU comes two days after the HRD minister and the UGC hinted at a possible cancellation of exams.
While the university claimed that the exams were postponed because of the rising cases of Covid-19, many in DU were unsure about the situation getting any better by July 10.
Calling the decision to not cancel the exams as absurd, DU Teachers’ Association (DUTA) president Rajib Ray asked: “The exams have been deferred saying that the condition is not conducive currently due to the pandemic. How can they be sure that the situation would be better ten days later?”
Indian National Teachers’ Congress convenor Pankaj Garg added: “The university is making a mockery of examinations. The pandemic situation is not going to improve in the next ten days. This decision will further create an atmosphere of confusion and add to stress of teachers and students. Problems are going to remain the same for students as more than 50% are from outside Delhi. UGC must intervene and send guidelines directing cancellation of exams for final-year students.”
Students are also unhappy with the decision. Anusha Mishra, a disabled third year student of Lady Shri Ram College, said that “the last couple of days have been taxing as there has been no clarity about the exams. Now, the varsity is going to postpone the exams despite UGC saying that they may be cancelled.”
“In this atmosphere of uncertainty, we demand the DU administration to come clear on issues and let us know if exams are going to happen or not,” said DU students association.
Speaking to TOI, dean of exams Vinay Gupta said that “the decision to postpone the exams has been taken so that students have time to prepare for the mock OBE test.”
However, a senior DU official claimed that “the decision was taken to buy time and to wait for the UGC’s guidelines. The exam was set to begin from July 1. It would have been problematic if UGC guidelines came a day or two before that.”