University students, teachers in Delhi concerned over fee hike, online exams amid ongoing COVID-19 crisis

Several students and teachers have raised their concerns over universities across the National Capital holding online classes, online exams, and raising the fees amid the coronavirus pandemic.

A group of students and teachers from various universities in the National Capital has raised their concern over holding online classes, fee hike and lack of infrastructural support in the varsities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Delhi University is conducting online open-book exams for the final year students of postgraduate and undergraduate courses. The move was opposed by both the parents and teachers who demanded that the exams should be scrapped given the coronavirus situation in the country. The varsity had also started online classes for the third and fifth semester students from August 10.

During an online briefing, Abha Dev Habib, a Delhi University professor, told PTI that teachers and students have been left out from the decision-making process to hold online classes.

"The decision of online open-book exams was taken without thinking about students. What will happen to students in Kashmir and those stuck in floods? The students do not have gadgets for online classes. The decision was taken without consulting the statutory bodies -- the Academic and Executive Council," she alleged.

Unni Maya, a student of Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi University, told that the varsity has gone ahead with the decision to hold online classes without thinking about the mental health and well-being of students. Taking online classes means that students have to spend a high screen time in front of their mobiles or laptops which impacts their health. She demanded that the varsity should think about funding and providing gadgets to students and it should also release department-wise data on how many students have availed online classes.

Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh told that the varsity is not worried about the teaching-learning process or about students who live in remote areas or in Kashmir who do not have any access to proper internet connectivity. The varsity is also not thinking about the students who are staying in flood-affected areas or those who have contracted COVID-19. Students are being pressurised to register for the next semester at a time when the UGC has also said that the varsities must finish the current semester by September 30. There is no meaning of registration. Students have been asked to clear their hostel and mess dues too. The varsity administration is continuously creating issues," she said.

She also alleged that the students of MBA and Engineering are being charged lakhs of rupees despite not having access to labs and having part-time faculty.

"I would call it daylight robbery. Even the representatives from these departments have been pressurised to not raise their voice," she said.

She also urged the varsity to ensure phased return of students to the campus by following proper medical protocols and establishing quarantine centres inside the premises.

Voices were also raised from Delhi government-run Ambedkar University against online classes and how the administration and even the state government has not heard their pleas.

Read More:

• COVID-19: JNU Hostel Committees urge waiver of hostel, mess charges
• 70 per cent attendance must not be mandatory for Delhi University students: Delhi HC