Dimapur, November 16 (MExN): The Nagaland University is faced with yet another dilemma as students from 31 colleges in Nagaland on Monday expressed their displeasure over the varsity’s decision to postpone the ‘odd semester’ examination which was originally scheduled to start from December 7.
The college students’ community through their respective on-campus, official student unions/councils, issued a statement appealing the Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University to consider conducting online examination for the odd semester (Semester 1, 3 and 5) students by this year itself.
It may be mentioned here that on November 12, the Department of Higher and Technical Education (DHTE) had directed NU to postpone examinations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and reschedule the same for January or February of 2021, after appeals from various quarters including the All Nagaland College Students’ Union.
Subsequently, the NU complied with the department’s directive and on November 13, announced the postponement of examinations. It said that the new dates for the examinations would be announced later.
However, the students viewed that the Nagaland University’s compliance with the DHTE directive has brought the students of Nagaland into a ‘deadly mouse-trap’ and claimed that their constitutional right to health and safety is likely to be jeopardized when the exams which are now have been postponed, will be ordered to be held on-campus in near future.
It cited various factors including the daily increase of COVID-19 cases in the state, the lack of a vaccine, vulnerabilities in the state’s health infrastructure as well as other logistical challenges that outstation students have to face in order to appear on-campus exams.
“We believe that the postponement of examination is no way in the interest of the students and overall academic world in Nagaland. However, it is important that the life should move on during the unparalleled time and circumstances that we are living in. Therefore, the alternate system that the humanity has devised – the virtual world must be taken refuge to; without any prejudices,” the statement read.
The students appealed the Vice Chancellor, NU, and the state government to take ‘just, fair and proper steps’ and conduct online examination for odd semester by this year itself.
