Alleging non-completion of syllabus, scores of Under Graduate (UG) students from across Odisha on Wednesday staged a demonstration at Master Canteen Square in Bhubaneswar seeking cancellation of offline exams.
The students demanded the concerned authorities either to cancel the 5th semester exams or conduct it in online mode as the classes were also held online due to the closure of their educational institutions owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The protesters also demanded the conduct exams as per the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines which had directed universities and colleges to reopen and conduct classes and examinations in either offline or blended (mix of online and offline) mode keeping in view their region’s Covid situation.
However, the direction of the State Higher Education Department to the educational institutions in Odisha to hold offline exams will only ruin the 5th semester results of the students and also adversely affect preparations for the 6th semester. This will further destroy the students' career, alleged the protesting students.
"Students are under severe mental stress. No one is listening to our issues. We had earlier approached several officials with our grievance but all in vain. Now, we have decided to continue our demonstration without food and water till our demand is fulfilled," said a student.
"Classes were not conducted properly for even two months. Each semester has a 6-month duration course and we are now told to appear for the exam at any cost in 2-month time. Isn't it a cruelty against the students? No one here is happy staging protest, rather, we have been forced to do so," said another student.
Another protesting student alleged that though some universities are considering going for online exam, the Odisha government is hell bent to conduct offline exam as it has not yet reviewed the situation.
"No one seems to be there to listen to us as all departments and officials are busy in Panchayat elections. Time for the exams is running out and if the government failed to take an immediate decision, it will adversely affect out result and career," he added.