Sonam Rana updated Content Curator updated
Content Curator updated
New Delhi: Delhi University students protested against the offline semester exams as they kept on demanding online or open book exams (OBE) for the May-June semesters. On Monday, April 18, 2022, hundreds of students joined the protest at the North Campus of the university.
Earlier, due to the rising COVID pandemic, Delhi University had shifted to the Online or Open Book Exam mode since 2020 and continued to conduct exams in the same format ever since. In February, offline classes began as the university reopened. The students of first, third and fifth semesters are appearing for online exams. Students of second, fourth and sixth semesters, the exams are supposed to be conducted via offline mode.
In March 2022, the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) wrote a letter to the DU VC, demanding online mode exams for the even semester courses students as well. They also protested in front of the VC Office in demand of online exams. Their demand was if the other universities could provide OBE, why couldn’t DU.
A Students’ Association claimed this demand to be completely valid as 90% of the syllabus was completed in online mode and this decision by DU is just “mentally torturing students…”
Delhi University students want #OBE for this May-June semester Exam as 90% of their syllabus was completed in Online mode!
— BIHAR POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (@bihar__students) April 17, 2022
Simple Solution to a logical Demand.
DU authorities are mentally torturing students.
Let's unite#JusticeForDUStudents#DUStudentsDemandOBE
“More than half our studies happened online. We have been giving exams in the online mode for the last two years, we want the option to be able to write it in that way for this semester as well. This is because given all the laxities in the teaching process this semester, students are not left with sufficient library and study time to do justice to their syllabus in offline exams,” as stated by Divyanshu, a sixth semester student of the varsity.
Referring to the rising COVID cases, another student tweeted that offline exams might bring forth chances of more such calamities as there will be lots of people in an enclosed space.
#covid cases are rising again, if anything happens to the students #du will be responsible as they are so desperate to take offline exams. So will be those selfish student groups who re-opened the uni #duwantobe #obe #wewantobe
— Janhvi Mishra (@mojojojo0028) April 14, 2022
Despite these demands by the students, teachers and principals believe that online exams are really not a feasible option. According to Manoj Sinha, the Aryabhatta College Principal, starting physical classes was a popular demand from the students and therefore, there is no going back to the OBE mode, unless the situation demands so.
“Students are saying that they have become unaccustomed to writing offline exams so many colleges are discussing conducting mock exams for practice. We have already begun these in our college so that they can get used to it. Classes have been happening in person so the exams will start after more than two and a half months of offline classes,” as further stated by Professor Sinha.
Professor Rajesh Jha from Rajdhani College, in an attempt to negotiate, has assured that DU will try to listen to the requirements of the students and help them with extra classes, longer library hours and so on.
The university has already decided that as a one-time measure, students appearing for the offline exams will be given an additional 30 minutes to write the exam and the question paper will include more choices.
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