Assam College Teachers’ Association’s memorandum to VC; Covid concerns regarding the ongoing TDC examination

While the entire nation is battling hard to fight this new wave of the Covid-19 infection amid rising positive cases, the Assam University, Silchar has decided to proceed with the ongoing TDC (CBCS) examination in offline mode. The examination, as scheduled by the authority, commenced from April 6 in offline mode amidst concerns and fears surrounding the possibility of contracting the virus. After several cases of students throughout the Barak Valley contracting the deadly Covid-19 virus amid the TDC examination, the Assam College Teachers’ Association (ACTA), Zonal Executive Committee of Cachar and Karimganj-Hailakandi, has forwarded a letter today to the Vice Chancellor of Assam University, Silchar, expressing their concern regarding the recent cases of students getting infected by the Covid-19 virus while appearing for the TDC examination.

The official letter was signed by the Central Executive Members of the ACTA, Cachar & Karimganj-Hailakandi zones and Members of the Academic Council of the Assam University, Silchar. In the letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor, the appellant tried to shed light on some of the recent cases of Covid infection among the students appearing for the TDC (CBCS) odd semester examination. Also, the instance of an Assistant Officer-in-charge (AOC) of the Exam section of Cachar College testing Covid positive amid the TDC examination was highlighted. The memorandum presented by the ACTA, Zonal Executive Committee and the Standing Committee of the Academic Council, Assam University, has appealed to the Vice Chancellor of the University to intervene and look into the matter with utmost urgency and sort out a viable solution at the earliest.

The letter also highlighted the fact that during the last meeting of the Standing Committee of the Academic Council on April 6, 2021, it was discussed that considering the ongoing Covid situation and ground reality, other possibilities of the mode of examination might be explored. Meanwhile, in the last couple of days, two students from Cachar, one from the GC College and the other from the NC Paul Memorial College, as well as one from the Karimganj College in Karimganj town, have tested Covid positive. The Assam University authority today through an official notification has already sent out several guidelines for the students and teaching/non-teaching staff associated with the ongoing TDC examination to follow and adhere to. Any student testing Covid positive are strictly advised to home isolate themselves until he/she subsequently tests negative, and will have to appear those missed out exams in offline mode at a later date in a separate room arranged by the Examination centre.