The University of Delhi has declared online examinations for final year students. The exam will be for 3 hours, with an hour each to download the question paper, and upload the answer sheet and submit. I have some very basic questions to ask.
Apart from the fact that the university is still banking upon a system of examinations during a freaking pandemic, the very first question one needs to ask: What all does a person need to successfully complete an online examination from their homes?
My limited knowledge tells me that:
a) A laptop at maximum and a working smartphone at minimum
b) A good, stable, internet connection
c) READING MATERIAL TO PREPARE FOR THE EXAM (should be the first criteria for an exam)
a) A laptop at maximum and a working smartphone at minimum
b) A good, stable, internet connection
c) READING MATERIAL TO PREPARE FOR THE EXAM (should be the first criteria for an exam)
And d) A space where the student can write their exams with any tension or disturbances.
The next questions: How many students does DU think have access to all four of the conditions?
The next questions: How many students does DU think have access to all four of the conditions?
What happens to students in Kashmir where at maximum 2G speed internet is allowed and a 10 pager document takes an hour minimum to download? What happens to student who do not own laptops?
What happens to students with no working, smartphone? What happens to student with no reading material back in their native places? What happens to people who do not have access to stable internet connections?
When we talk about education being exclusive for the upper castes and upper classes, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE MEAN. DIGITAL INDIA IS A HERCULEAN TASK IN A SOCIETY EMBEDDED WITH LAYERED INEQUALITIES. #EducationWithoutExclusion #DUAgainstOnlineExaminations
We need to also ask, can the university assess its students ONLY through a model of examinations where the students need to prove their merit without a stipulated amount of period? Can there be no alternative assessment that is fair, accessible, equitable?
FOR GOD'S SAKE, WE ARE IN MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC. Does education entail being forced in sit in an examination in a situation that seriously jeopardizes their physical and mental health?
We demand that online examinations be scrapped and alternative methods that inclusive in nature be adopted.
#EducationWithoutExclusion #DUAgainstOnlineExams
#EducationWithoutExclusion #DUAgainstOnlineExams
We demand that education be anti-discriminatory, and most importantly, BE FAIR.
#EducationWithoutExclusion #DuAgainstOnlineExam
#EducationWithoutExclusion #DuAgainstOnlineExam
