Aatif QayooM

Srinagar, June 14, (KNS): Students of Kashmir University, Department of Pharmaceutical Science Batch 2015 appealed authorities to take a concrete and sympathetic decision regarding their future and conduct online exams if necessary in times of pandemic.

Students told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that their degree was supposed to get completed by or before 2019 as they have opted 4 year bachelors degree course but due to unavoidable situation across J&K, authorities could not conduct exams on time. They said Covid-19 pandemic has hit every sector of the nation and ours as well as their degrees are yet to complete.

They said authorities earlier took the decision of promoting students to next classes but we being the terminal year students, the decision could not provide any relief to us. They added Kashmir University authorities have decided to conduct offline exams in the months of June – July which is impossible in pandemic times as threat of the disease is still persisting.

“We feel worried as the highest seat of learning in J&K is forcing us to appear in exams when there is a threat of transmission of virus”, students told and added, “How can students reach to examination halls when several areas are still declared red zones and students living there are under quarantine as their family members or relatives had been tested Covid-19 positive?”.

“Neither transport facility nor residential is available at this juncture for students so it seems impracticable to get all students into examination halls”, students said.

They appealed university authorities to revisit its plan and ensure online examination so that further time of students is not wasted without risking their lives.

Examination Controller KU, Farooq Ahmad Mir told KNS that the decision has been taken for conduct of exams but maintained students will be given relaxation in view of pandemic situation.

“The decision has been taken, we can’t revisit it further. Students will be given due relaxation”, he said. (KNS)