Delhi University plans ‘open-book’ online exam; teachers, student bodies raise concerns

New Delhi: Teachers and pupil our bodies have criticised the Delhi University’s resolution to carry ultimate 12 months post-graduate and under-graduate exams in ‘open-book’ mode on-line if the COVID-19 state of affairs does not normalise quickly, terming it “discriminatory” which might put a big part of pupils in anxiousness.

The ‘open-book’ examination mode would enable college students to confer with books, notes and different examine supplies to reply the questions. Students will obtain query papers for his or her respective course from the online portal sitting at residence and add the solutions inside two hours.

The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) termed the system of holding on-line exams “discriminatory” and “unfair”. It additionally shot off a letter to the college vice-chancellor expressing their disagreement with the transfer.

“It is not viable for a large University like DU, with its diverse student population, and it is shocking that the institute has adopted it as the only form. We demand that the pen-paper option be given to all students,” DUTA stated.

It instructed that the college ought to think about the potential for giving provisional levels to college students based mostly on their Cumulative Grade Points Average (CGPA) of 5 semesters.

“The concept of an ‘open-book’ examination is very different from the kind of tests our students are used to. Springing this ugly surprise on them in such uncertain and anxious times will increase the anxiety of large sections of students, especially since the normal teaching-learning process has been disrupted due to the pandemic,” the academics’ physique stated.

The Delhi University’s Executive Council member Rajesh Jha, together with another members of the council, have additionally written to the VC over the problem.

“This unilateral transfer to organise distant open e-book exams to be tried at residence by the scholars of Delhi University will push larger schooling in direction of privatization by devaluing its levels and diluting their rigour.

“The pedagogy of DU and its examination system are neither structured nor cultivated for open book examinations and those too to be taken at one’s home,” they stated whereas additionally elevating web connectivity and cybersecurity points.

The Indian National Teachers’ Congress (INTEC) additionally mooted the concept of calculating CGPA on the idea of inner examination marks and scores within the earlier semester.

“Open e-book exams are meant not solely to test the conceptual understanding of the scholars but in addition their potential to use these ideas in real-life conditions. Open e-book on-line exams want a completely completely different patterned query paper.

“Students and teachers are never trained for this process of conducting exams in our university,” stated INTEC convener Pankaj Garg.

According to INTEC, 45 per cent of the college’s college students are from exterior Delhi and a serious chunk of them from the agricultural hinterland.

“These outstation students had gone to their homes during semester break without taking along their books and notes. Also, students from northeastern India and Jammu and Kashmir do not have access to the Internet,” Garg claimed.

There isn’t any provision of open-book on-line exams within the ordinances. An tutorial Council assembly ought to be convened over the problem, he stated.

Among the scholar our bodies, the Left-backed All India Students’ Association (AISA) stated on-line exams aren’t a possible type of evaluation for the huge diaspora of pupils in DU.

AISA had just lately performed a survey which confirmed 74 % college students have been towards holding of exams on-line.

“In a time of health crisis, the DU administration must take into account the students coming from the marginal sections of the society. Students have cited various reasons such as connectivity, resources, lack of material and online classes for rejecting online exams. The voice of students must be listened to,” it stated.

The AISA will likely be holding a social media marketing campaign #DuAgainstOnlineExams on May 15.

The Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) stated the primary and second-year college students ought to be promoted on the idea of their efficiency within the earlier semester whereas the ultimate 12 months college students ought to be evaluated on their previous scores and be given 10 per cent further marks since college students have a tendency to attain extra of their ultimate 12 months.

The NSUI has additionally initiated an internet petition elevating its calls for. The petition has been signed by greater than 60,000 college students, it stated.

Former Executive Council member A Okay Bhagi stated the open e-book examination does not look like a viable possibility in DU.

“When we say it is an online open-book test then it is beneficial to those who have access to experts and or tutors. One can pay money to get test solved through prior engagement of experts. It doesn’t seem to me as a workable, viable option in DU and it has less credibility,” he added.