Examinations of Final Year in Interest of Students
Various options for Format and Duration should be considered: ABVP Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad appeals to the educational fraternity to take into cognizance the wide-ranging impact and consequences of the quick fix solutions being adopted by various state governments with respect to the assessment of the final year students across colleges and universities.
The unprecedented situation brought about as a result of the covid-19 pandemic has forced our everyday lives, and not just education, to break away from its traditional ways and explore uncharted territories. Colleges, Universities and other centers of higher learning have witnessed intense debates and discussion on new and innovative modes of imparting education and evaluation. Any measure adopted as just a quick fix solution in the field of education - be it with respect to the quality of education, the standard of degree awarded to the students, admissions to institutes of higher education or provision of employment to the students, without ample foresight shall have adverse long-term impact.
Modes of examination which can be contactless like the Open Book Examinations, project work, written assignment and essays, online or telephonic viva-voce were some of the measures suggested by the University Grants Commission guidelines released on 27th April. Such measures must be adopted where possible, but in those regions where it is not practically possible to evaluate the students through various methods of evaluation, it is best to postpone the examinations. A decision can be taken to reduce the duration and the syllabus for the upcoming session to make this happen.
Nidhi Tripathi, National General Secretary, ABVP, said, "The broad goals and aims of education and the quality of education imparted while awarding the degree must be the primary factors considered and any decision taken must be made with the future of students in sight. The decision to shift the dates of NEET and JEE entrance examinations has made it clear that the new sessions can only start by November 2020. Universities and colleges must also accordingly look to wait it out till the covid-19 pandemic is brought under control and then move forward with well-defined methods of evaluation with clarity. ABVP is on its toe and attentive to the admission related questions that may arise in the near future and is committed to its struggle to 'fix the three tasks - admission, examination and results' in service of the students."
