Appeals Union HRD Ministry, UGC for cancellation

ITANAGAR, Jul 19: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) on Sunday submitted separate representations to the office of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development and the University Grants Commission demanding cancellation of the terminal examinations for end-semester students in the state.
The apex union of the state informed this through its press release issued on Sunday. Referring to the latest UGC directive according to which the affiliated universities have to conduct their final year/semester exams before September 30, AAPSU said that besides creating mixed feelings among the state’s students, it has also caused chaos and confusion among parents, teachers and other stakeholders including the union itself. Reasoning that most of the final semester students of the RGU and its affiliated colleges in the state are not ready to appear for exams due to fear of the pandemic especially in the ICR and its surrounding areas, the union added that prolonged lockdown(s) have also severely affected the mental & emotional well-being of the students, making it absolutely non-conducive for taking exams. “Other state universities and institutions in Arunachal Pradesh are also unsure about the exams and many of the students studying in these universities are against the move of the MHRD and UGC to forcibly push for exams amid the critical situation,” the release mentioned.  
AAPSU asserted that both on-line and off-line mode of examinations are not possible at the moment in the state due to a host of reasons ranging from digital deficiencies, recent spate of landslides, floods and other natural calamities and the prevailing fear caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Besides the above, the students will just not be able to make it to the university and colleges due to the lockdown, the release said. The union has also opined that the SOPs issued for conducting exams are practically impossible to be strictly adhered to in the state since the authorities who are now totally busy in containing the pandemic will hardly find time to oversee the matter. Dragging out the students, many of whom are now at their native places will increase their chances of getting infected, which consequently may also escalate chances of large-scale outbreaks in the state, the release expressed apprehension. 
A separate representation demanding cancellation of final year/semester exams in the state was also earlier submitted by AAPSU to the Chief Minister. Referring to this move, the union has urged the state government to pursue the matter with the PMO, MHRD & UGC. Questioning the rationality behind the MHRD and UGC’s steadfastness in conducting exams despite opposition from students and teachers across the country, AAPSU said that students’ lives are more important than exams. Regarding the exam timeline issued by the RGU on July 17, the union has asked the varsity authorities whether prior consultations have been made with the State Health Task Force (SHTF) and the state government. While demanding an immediate cancellation of the RGU notification, the union has also questioned the logic behind Arunachal Law Academy’s decision of conducting online exams from July 21-23, preceded only by a short notice.

AAPSU said that an alternative mode of evaluation and a more humane and rational approach should be devised which does not risk the lives of the students in the state. AAPSU PR 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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