ANCSU ask state govt & Nagaland University to prioritise students safety

Kohima: The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU), on Monday expressed its dismay over the revised University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines to conduct the end semester examinations for all courses throughout India by the end of September 2020.

Through a letter addressed to the chief secretary, the ANCSU sought the intervention of the state government “to request the University Grants Commission and Ministry of Human Resource Development to consider the case of Nagaland and allow the Nagaland University to take relevant decision in the interest of the students’ community”.

Although it agreed that exams are essential for global acceptance, the ANCSU said that “compromising students’ life value at the cause of education is irrational”. It said that the UGC must comprehend all in all situation of the country due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. It then ‘highly’ disapproved UGC’s decision of issuing the directive to conduct exams.

It informed the chief secretary that due to poor internet connectivity in Nagaland, holding online exams in not feasible. “More so, many students continue to struggle without required gadgets to go for online exams and to this, we cannot afford to jeopardise our students. Similarly, considering the current situation of our state, conducting physical mode of examination is no less than putting the entire state at risk,” it said.

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The Student body appealed the State Government to request the University Grants Commission and Ministry of Human Resource Development to consider the case of Nagaland and allow the Nagaland University to take relevant decision in the interest of the students’ community.

“Until such time, the Nagaland University should immediately withdraw the exam routines for all courses published on the 16th July, 2020. The ANCSU further requests the State Government and the Nagaland University to first prioritise the safety of the colleges and university fraternities before taking any decision for conduct of exams,” the letter said.

While the Nagaland University is bound to follow the UGC guidelines/directives, the student body said that during these trying times, the State Government and the Nagaland University must represent and salvage the students’ community.