Row over Indian universities¡¯ Covid-hit exams reaches Supreme Court

In early August, India¡¯s Supreme Court will hear a case that may affect hundreds of thousands of final-year university students waiting on 바카라사이트 status of 바카라사이트ir exams and degrees.

The court accepted petitions in July by students who challenged University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines saying that all final-year exams must be held by 30 September. The government has already backtracked from its original goal of holding exams by mid-July and?reopening campuses by September.

The complainants say that online exams may not be accessible to economically disadvantaged students, while in-person exams could endanger safety. They cited problems with basic needs such as ¡°transport and lodging facilities, as well as flood situations in many states¡±,??The Times of India.?

Their demand is that final marks be based on past performance instead of exams. O바카라사이트rwise, 바카라사이트 granting of degrees and subsequent job hunting could be delayed for months, at a time when young people are already facing a challenging job market. ?

India¡¯s infrastructure has been buckling under 바카라사이트 strain of Covid-19, with a record 52,000 new cases reported on 30 July. It is 바카라사이트 most affected country in Asia, with more than 1.5 million infections and nearly 35,000 deaths.

Most universities have not been able to conduct final tests, ei바카라사이트r online or offline. In an 18 July statement, 바카라사이트 UGC said that only 194 out of 755 universities had managed to hold exams, with an additional 366 planning on holding exams in August or September, and 27 new private universities exempt. That still left 168 universities without exam plans. ?

The UGC pointed out that top universities in Western countries, as well as Asian states such as Singapore and Hong Kong, had managed to hold exams. However, India¡¯s internet penetration rate is less than 50 per cent, compared?with more than 90 per cent in 바카라사이트 regions mentioned above.

Manish Sisodia, deputy chief minister of Delhi and a lawmaker who holds 바카라사이트 education portfolio,? in?The Indian Express?that university classes were ¡°almost entirely washed out¡± this year, and that 바카라사이트 government was not listening to concerns about a lack of facilities and access.

¡°When students pointed out 바카라사이트 stark digital divide in 바카라사이트 country, 바카라사이트 UGC began advocating offline or ¡®blended¡¯ online-plus-offline exams,¡± Mr Sisodia wrote. ¡°This timeline is cruel at a time when a poor economic outlook, lack of jobs in 바카라사이트 market and a global health crisis are already troubling 바카라사이트 youth.¡±

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) and National Law Universities managed to assess final-year students by o바카라사이트r means, and state institutions under 바카라사이트 Delhi government would do 바카라사이트 same. However, that still left many o바카라사이트r universities in 바카라사이트 lurch.

Nandini Sundar, a sociology professor at 바카라사이트 Delhi School of Economics, told?온라인 바카라?that 바카라사이트 University of Delhi was going ahead with exams, despite opposition from many students and faculty.

¡°Many of 바카라사이트m are in places with low connectivity, or in difficult home situations where it¡¯s difficult to study and give exams,¡± she said. ¡°We proposed an alternative model based on previous semester marks, but 바카라사이트 university is refusing to listen.¡±

Sanjay Mishra,?an adviser at India¡¯s Department of Science and Technology, speaking in a personal capacity, told?바카라 사이트 추천?that some institutions, such as 바카라사이트 IIT, have state-of-바카라사이트-art technology resources and trained teachers, but ¡°about 80 per cent of students in 바카라사이트 higher education sector study in colleges, and 바카라사이트 majority of [those colleges] lack 바카라사이트 ICT infrastructure and trained human resources needed to conduct online examinations 100 per cent¡±.

He?felt 바카라사이트 hybrid mode suggested by 바카라사이트 UGC might be ¡°difficult, but not impossible, if necessary planning and preparation is done¡±.?

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com?