Hold exams online, demand students of homoeopathy

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 19

Students of Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Sector 26, expressed displeasure over the management’s decision to conduct theory exams from September 22 for which the students need to be present at the centre.

However, officials maintained that the decision had been taken in view of the Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH) rules.

The college is affiliated to Panjab University (PU). However, it follows CCH — like other professional medical courses. As the PU is conducting the exams in a blended mode for exit classes and has promoted those in the first or second year, homoeopathy students demanded that the college should follow the same pattern due to the pandemic.

“The exams are starting from September 22 and the date sheet was released on September 15. We have been given only seven-day notice to prepare. Before examination, the students have been asked to follow instruction such as a mandatory Covid-19 antibody and IGG test. The test costs around Rs1,000. Admit cards have not been received yet,” said a student.

They alleged that the PU exam admit fee is Rs1,000, but the college management had charged Rs10,000 per student. “College has already collected the second-year fee after taking internal exams online in July. They started the second-year classes in August and are asking us to take the exams on such a short notice. If the PU can conduct examinations online, why can’t a college affiliated to the same institution follow the suit,” alleged another student.

He further said: “The form and the fee of Rs10,075 for the admit card was submitted on June 10. The admit card has not been issued till date.”

Management’s take

College Principal Dr Sandeep Puri said the students had been misinformed about the facts. “We have been following the CCH guidelines. We have also received all admit cards and the students have been misinforming the media about everything,” said Puri.