Mid-term exams worry Covid positive students

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 6

As colleges decide to conduct mid-term exams online this month, students facing Covid-19 complications want the UT Administration to reconsider the decision.

The students claim that some colleges have even decided to conduct two examinations in a single day, putting more pressure on them.

Some colleges have decided to conduct examinations from the next week, while others are conducting it later this month. “In a recent meeting, the Director Higher Education (DHE) has allowed the colleges to take online examinations. We are yet to receive further instructions from the DHE regarding exams for students suffering from Covid-19. We have to abide by the rules and directions,” said a college coordinator.

Meanwhile, the students claimed that the sudden announcement of exams amid such circumstances was worrisome.

“I am recovering from Covid-19 and can barely walk. The college issued a notice that we have to appear for two examinations in a single day and have to upload the answer sheets within 20 minutes. How can the authorities expect us to take so much pressure? I am already under mental stress,” said a student, studying in a Sector 32-based college.

Another student said: “Students should either be promoted to next semester or the exams be delayed. My mother is suffering from Covid-19 and we live in a 2BHK. She is isolated in one room and in another, rest of the family members are living. Under such circumstances, I just cannot concentrate on studying or peacefully appear for exams.”

Meanwhile, colleges say the semesters cannot be delayed. “The semester examinations cannot be just delayed. The session is already suffering due to the pandemic. We just have one option — to follow the instructions. And this is what we are doing,” said a college official.

She added: “There has been a tremendous effect of the pandemic on everyone’s life, but we have to survive. At the most, the higher authorities may allow students suffering from Covid-19 to give exams later, along with their next exams.”