Cancel final-semester exams, NESO requested UCG & MHRD

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The North East Students Organization (NESO) has urged the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh to ensure that the final semester exams in the State are cancelled considering the current situation in the State and the risks involved during the COVID-19 pandemic scenario. The organization, in a letter on Tuesday, urged the Governor to pursue the matter with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and the University Grant Commission (UGC).

The NESO stated that the UGC in its latest guidelines has said that universities must conduct their final year/final-semester exams before September 30 this year. This has led to mixed feelings, confusion and chaos among the parents, teachers and other stakeholders in Arunachal Pradesh.

"We have learnt that most of the final-semester students from the Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), Doimukh are not ready to appear in the exams due to fear of the COVID-19 pandemic in the State — especially in the Capital Complex and its surrounding areas in which this lone Central University is located," the statement added.

It further pointed out that the month-long lockdown — including the current Itanagar Capital Complex lockdown which also includes the Doimukh area — has severely affected the mental and emotional wellbeing of the students.

It further states that "the other State universities in Arunachal Pradesh are also unsure about the exams; and many of our students studying in these universities are against the move of the MHRD & UGC to push for exams during such a serious health crisis which has affected the entire nation.

The organization stressed that, while many of the offices, schools, factories, public places etc are closed, "we don't find any merit in conducting exams for the final semester students in the universities. At present, many of the students are at their native places effectively following lockdown and other measures.

"However, making the exams mandatory will compel them to come out of their houses and travel thereby increasing the chances of exposure. Any large-scale outbreak of COVID-19 cases resulting from the final semester students appearing for exams across the State shall be disastrous for us and greatly undo the current efforts put in by the frontline workers in the State," the letter added.

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