Stop conducting final-yr e-exams, says state, but ICT digs its heels in
Mumbai: After conducting three e-exams for its final-year students, the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) was asked by the state to stall its examination process on Thursday evening. The institute, however, has decided to continue with the exams for about 300 undergraduate and master’s students and after a week, also hold e-exams for junior students.
The institute had decided to hold the e-exams after a meeting with class representatives and branch representatives. However, after three papers, the authorities were hounded by calls from Yuva Sena and the directorate of technical education (DTE) questioned the move.
“We have two more papers to go and an elective exam. Apart from two or three students, almost everyone wanted an exam. They want transcripts to fly out for higher education, many want to submit results to prospective employers,” said ICT vice-chancellor Aniruddha Pandit. The ICT is the first institute of the city to conduct e-exams and the efforts to stonewall the process reflects the political will of the state.
“All state universities have to follow the government resolution issued. Not only is the ICT holding final-year exams, its plans to hold them for the students of second- and third-year too,” said Yuva Sena’s core committee members Sainath Durge. He added that students sent an anonymous email to Aaditya Thackeray, following which Yuva Sena complained to the higher and technical education minister, who within hours had the DTE higher-ups ring vice chancellor Pandit.
“We had to explain the rationale of holding the e-exams to the DTE officers. Though our junior students were a part of entire process wherein we asked them how they’d like to be assessed, we will again conduct a survey in case they have a change of heart and conduct exams if they still want,” said a senior ICT faculty.
In the preamble sent out with instructions on how to take the exam, the institute authorities said: “Looking at the known history of cases where Universities have given degrees without examination, we found that those batches have suffered throughout their career. Many had difficulty in finding their first job in a competitive world, and candidates from previous batches were instead preferred.”
The e-exams require students to download question paper and upload the answer book using email or even WhatsApp to a secured website. “It is understood that there can be students who are either suffering from Covid-19 or someone in their family is. This can put the students in severe stress for an examination even if they have a satisfactory internet connection. It is also understood that without supervision, there can be little control over malpractices except through self-discipline,” said the letter to students. For students who cannot take this version, another exam is planned in August without any drop in the grade or any other academic penalty.
The institute had decided to hold the e-exams after a meeting with class representatives and branch representatives. However, after three papers, the authorities were hounded by calls from Yuva Sena and the directorate of technical education (DTE) questioned the move.
“We have two more papers to go and an elective exam. Apart from two or three students, almost everyone wanted an exam. They want transcripts to fly out for higher education, many want to submit results to prospective employers,” said ICT vice-chancellor Aniruddha Pandit. The ICT is the first institute of the city to conduct e-exams and the efforts to stonewall the process reflects the political will of the state.
“All state universities have to follow the government resolution issued. Not only is the ICT holding final-year exams, its plans to hold them for the students of second- and third-year too,” said Yuva Sena’s core committee members Sainath Durge. He added that students sent an anonymous email to Aaditya Thackeray, following which Yuva Sena complained to the higher and technical education minister, who within hours had the DTE higher-ups ring vice chancellor Pandit.
“We had to explain the rationale of holding the e-exams to the DTE officers. Though our junior students were a part of entire process wherein we asked them how they’d like to be assessed, we will again conduct a survey in case they have a change of heart and conduct exams if they still want,” said a senior ICT faculty.
In the preamble sent out with instructions on how to take the exam, the institute authorities said: “Looking at the known history of cases where Universities have given degrees without examination, we found that those batches have suffered throughout their career. Many had difficulty in finding their first job in a competitive world, and candidates from previous batches were instead preferred.”
The e-exams require students to download question paper and upload the answer book using email or even WhatsApp to a secured website. “It is understood that there can be students who are either suffering from Covid-19 or someone in their family is. This can put the students in severe stress for an examination even if they have a satisfactory internet connection. It is also understood that without supervision, there can be little control over malpractices except through self-discipline,” said the letter to students. For students who cannot take this version, another exam is planned in August without any drop in the grade or any other academic penalty.
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