Students in Kolkata stage protest, demand offline exams

KOLKATA: Around 30 students from Sanskrit College and University staged a demonstration on the institute campus on Monday, demanding offline examinations. Since regular offline classes are being held, a fair and normal examination procedure is the priority, they argued.
The students collected nearly 80 signatures from fellow students and submitted a letter to vice-chancellor Anuradha Mukhopadhyay, requesting her to stick to the decision to conduct offline exams. The students said they were open to the exam dates being rescheduled or syllabus adjusted for the exams.

Sanskrit College authorities accepted the demand and declared that the core and theoretical papers will be held offline for all semesters while the departments will decide on the mode, preferably assignments, in case of elective subjects. The exam dates were also rescheduled from June 8 to June 14 for final-year UG and PG students, and intermediate semester exams will commence from June 28.
Animesh Dutta, a final-year philosophy student, welcomed the decision. "Our exams were scheduled from June 8 in offline mode but a section of students was creating pressure to ensure evaluation in online mode. The decision of the authorities to reschedule the exam and to conduct it offline vindicates our demand that was legitimate and rational," said Dutta.
Abhipsa Chakraborti, a final-year English student, felt students needed to realise and accept that online exams that were conducted during Covid was due to exceptional circumstances and that it will be offline henceforth. "Online exams for two years have made me lose the power of memorization. It is necessary to get back the practice of learning and giving physical exams because in future, whenever I apply for higher education or competitive exams, everything will be in pen-and-paper format. It is one of the best way for a student to evaluate oneself," said Chakraborti.
According to Tirthadeep Mitra, a final-year philosophy student, online exam is a farce and creates a digital divide. "As students, we should have a moral responsibility towards gaining knowledge and not be solely interested in securing high grades," he said.
A section of students backing online tests gheraoed teachers and the vice-chancellor soon after the decision. But a university official said the decision taken was final and would not be changed.