“Classes on Zoom then why exams in Room?” Students of Assam University sits in protest, locks main gate demanding online examination

“Classes on Zoom then why exams in Room?”, was the question asked by the students of Assam University, Silchar on Tuesday. On February 14, Central University published a notice informing students about phase-wise re-opening of classes and offline schedule of semester exams. Just one day after that, the students of this university blocked the gate once again to protest against the decision of the administration.

Some 200 students gathered in front of the main gate of the University and started their demonstration with placards and sloganeering. In the absence of a student union, a representative body was formed with students from various departments and schools under the university. The body, on Tuesday, stated their demands in front of the university administration and said, “All our classes were conducted online, even our internal exams were online then how can the university suddenly decide on conducting offline exams? The University Grants Commission had also notified for the conducting exams in either online or blended mode or both online and offline. This decision by the university is against us and is a dictatorial step by them”.

Joining in, another student too blamed the university and added, “All of a sudden the University has got head over heels for conducting offline exams. They’ve called our parents in fact for this. There is internal planning and plotting against us by some departments. In the last, so many months, our teachers have never called our parents to know about our studies or any other matters, why suddenly about offline exams? This is abusing of their power”.

According to the students, they have written repeated memorandums to the VC and Administration against offline exams and even proposed for exams in blended mode. But in the absence of a student union their voices remained unheard, they alleged. What’s surprising here is that both the university administration and student unity seems to be adamant with their stand. Also, the state government has relaxed all the previously imposed Covid curbs as Covid positive cases in the state are constantly coming down.