Amid lockdown, final semester students in Punjab, Haryana asked to return for exams

Bisma Bhat

Srinagar, June 03:  Thousands of final semester students, who returned from various colleges of Punjab and Haryana, have been asked to report back for examinations.

University Grants Commission (UGC)  had decided to hold examination of the final semester students while promoting the students of intermediate semester on the basis of internal assessments.

Given coronavirus scare and lockdown, Jammu and Kashmir government had recently brought back Kashmiri students from different states. 

However, final semester students studying in various colleges of Punjab and Haryana have been asked to report to the Universities for appearing in the last semester examination.

 “As per the University, the examination of final year students will be conducted in July through offline mode. Students have been asked to report back to university before June 20,” said a student of Swami Vivekananda Institute of Engineering and Technology, Punjab.

He said that they are scared to return given the pandemic. “We have returned to Kashmir a few months back amid coronavirus threat. Due to the pandemic, we are scared to go back. It will be very risky to travel again,” he said.

Another student at Aryan College of Engineering said his parents will not allow him to travel again.

“University authorities should take steps to secure our future. They should defer examination or promote us through online exams. This is the last year of our degree and we cannot afford to lose it. Many students are residing in red and orange zones. How will they travel? This will risk the lives of thousands of students,” he said.

Nasir Kheuhami, Students Association Spokesperson, said they are receiving distress calls from many Kashmiri students studying in Punjab and Haryana colleges. 

“They have been asked to return to the college for final year examinations. I have taken up the matter with media advisor to Punjab CM, Raveen Thukral and he has assured me that they will discuss it with the education minister within two days,” he said

Professor Karanvir Singh, Examination Controller, MRSPTU said, they are exploring the option of establishing an exam center at Jammu. “For Kashmiri students, we will talk to the educational institutions in the valley. If they agree than another center will be set up in Kashmir,” he said.

Share This Article
Master's in convergent journalism
5 Comments