NT NETWORK

Panaji

The National Students Union of India, Goa (NSUI, Goa) has written to the Governor, who is the Chancellor of Goa University, besides university Vice Chancellor and its Registrar demanding cancellation of the final year semester exams in offline/ physical mode, and instead use the method followed during the previous academic year to evaluate the students.

Goa University’s campus under-graduation/ post-graduation online exams are scheduled to be held from June 21 onwards, while such offline exams for the final year students are to commence on July 1.

“In view of the fact that due to massive transmission of COVID-19 in Goa, thousands of people have lost their lives, and therefore to ensure safety and security of students, we request you not to hold the final year semester exams in offline/ physical mode, and rather use some other method to evaluate the students,” the NSUI, Goa letter has stated, pointing out, “Due to second wave of the pandemic all the students are in panic situation regarding their end semester exams and since Goa’s positivity and mortality rate is high it is very risky to conduct the examinations in offline/ physical mode, and students might get infected in this process leading to the third wave of this epidemic in the state.”

“In order to tackle this issue, the only solution to keep the students’ academic and lives safe is to follow the former registrar Y V Reddy’s last academic year method of evaluating final year students, wherein 70 per cent weightage of marks is given based on previous semester exams as well as internal assessment marks, while 30 per cent weightage of marks is given for the small online exam,” it noted.

“We urge the authorities to please implement last academic year method for evaluating final year students in order to avoid further stress and disruption to students’ lives during this pandemic,” the communiqué stated, adding that this would be the best possible way to keep the students safe and protected from COVID-19.

“We request your authority to take this matter with seriousness and take the necessary actions,” it concluded, while pointing out, “We bestow in you full faith that you will give the students justice.”