Abrar A. Mattoo
SRINAGAR, July 6: With more than four million active admissions, IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University), has the title of being the largest university in the world. However, despite that sheer amount of its enrollment and the danger that it poses, the university has steered away from the Covid-19 tradition and scheduled its examinations in offline mode from Aug. 3 onwards.
In Kashmir, Leh, and Kargil, 25000 students are scheduled to appear at 26 examination centers, including 31 students at central jail, Srinagar.
On 3 July 2021, the registrar of the varsity Dr. V.B. Negi, signed a notification wherein the commencement of the examinations from 3 Aug. 2021 was ordered. However, the students and staff at IGNOU saw it as an act that was committed without proper compliance of mind and complained that the move would put the safety of their own and their families in jeopardy.
“Not all of us would be comfortable sitting in a cramped-up hall with 3-400 students and writing the exam paper. Though the situation has relatively improved in India, the covid-19 infection is still there. I had opted for distance learning because of various health issues, now because of my asthma, I am seriously anxious about my exams through offline mode,” Etihad Sahil, a B.A. student at IGNOU said while voicing serious concern over the varsity’s move.
While speaking with Kashmir Despatch, Javid Qadir, Asst. Registrar IGNOU, Kashmir, said the varsity has decided to hold the offline exams for various reasons.
“Not all students have access to a smartphone or internet in India. Especially in rural areas. Therefore, an online examination may not have been feasible. Additionally, thorough secrecy cannot be maintained in exams conducted through online mode. Given the fact that our university is an institution of distance learning, we want to make sure that a student that we are handing a degree to, has fairly earned it. We cannot compromise on the quality of our education.”
Additionally, the official said that all the measures would be taken to ensure that Covid-19 SOP’s are followed in the examination centers and the lives of students and staff are not put at risk.
“In Kashmir, we have arranged additional examination centers so that the distance and other SOP’s could be properly maintained at the centers during the examination,” the official further added while voicing assurances for the anxious staff and students to bear in mind.
