NEW DELHI: The Delhi University (DU) on Saturday postponed the online open book examinations (OBE) for final semester students by 10 days citing the prevalent coronavirus pandemic. The exams were scheduled to start from July 1.
The exams are now set to start from July 10. Students and teachers of the varsity continue to demand for scraping of the OBE and feel that the postponement is a ploy to distract attention from the varsity’s failed attempt to conduct a mock test on Friday.
The new schedule for the examinations will now be notified on July 3 by the Dean examinations, DU. The mock test will now be held on July 4th, to generate awareness among the students about the procedures of OBE mode.
"The exams for all final year students including open schools stands postponed for ten days in view of the prevailing situation of Covid-19 pandemic as concerned stakeholders, especially students, may find it difficult to attend their scheduled activities of examinations," said Vinay Gupta, Dean Admissions in a statement issued.
The guidelines and procedures of OBE will remain unchanged, said Gupta. "The university is making a mockery of final year students. The pandemic will not end in 10 days; rather it will only get worse. This decision will only create more confusion, stress among teachers and students. Also, the CSCs, which the varsity is talking about, are in very bad shape with poor ICT facilities. UGC must intervene and direct the stubborn VC and his administration to cancel the exams," said Dr Pankaj Garg, convenor, Indian National Teachers Congress.
Another professor and member of Executive Council, Rajesh Jha, said, "This decision to postpone is as arbitrary as that of conducting online OBE. The varsity was not able to conduct a mock test. The frequent crashing of DU website and lack of mock tests clearly show that there is no sufficient preparation for conducting OBE."
"The varsity is creating stress and anxiety among students. Even after 10 days, I cannot go to the CSC centre as it is located 40 km away from my village, which is sealed. How can I sit for the exam? They should scrap the exams and let students focus on their future," said Praveen Seera, DU final year student.
The numbers game
As per data available, out of total registrations recorded, 56,988 students registered under Unreserved category, while 11,467 registered under Other Backward Category, 9,456 under Schedule Caste category, 1,547 under Scheduled Tribe category and 1,384 under Economically Weaker Section category