DU final year exams to begin from July 1, open book test as alternative

NEW DELHI: The Delhi University on Thursday announced that final semester examination for students in all programmes and streams will begin from July 1. The exams will be conducted offline.

The dean of examinations, Delhi University, in a circular released on Thursday said: “Examination for final year students for all undergraduate, postgraduate, programmes including examinations for students registered with School of Open Learning and Non-Collegiate Women Education Board shall begin from July 1, 2020.”

The university, in the circular, said that alternative methods such as open book examination will be adopted in case the COVID-19 threat does not subside by July 1.

It said: “In case the situation does not appear to be normal in view of COVID-19...university shall adopt an alternative mode of examination that is open book examination (OBE) for final year undergraduate, postgraduate students of all programmes and streams along with arrears of previous semester."

"Students shall be allowed to attempt their examinations as per the date sheet and courses as filled in examination form from seating at home or any place as per instructions and guidelines issued in this behalf," the university said.

Online exams?

The Delhi University's decision to opt for open book examinations had received criticism from academics.

The Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) has protested against this decision.

The teachers have interpreted this move to mean that the university will resort to online mode of examination to conduct the open book test.

The Academics for Action and Development, a teacher's body, in a statement opposing the move, said: “The Students are not trained/ taught for these types of questions. Secondly, they have taken admission in an examination scheme and now the scheme can not be changed suddenly and arbitrarily midway.”

“Thirdly, we have three fourth of students coming from scheduled caste (SC), scheduled tribe (ST), other backward communities (OBC), economically weaker sections (EWS), persons with disability (PWD) and remote areas like northeast and Jammu and Kashmir, who are mostly on the wrong side of digital divide,” the teacher's body added.

Many students belonging to these communities do not have the necessary facilities- smartphone, laptop,internet- to attempt online examinations.

The group also said that the biggest challenge will be framing the question papers since some programmes require derivations, numericals and theoretical models.

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