The North East Students’ Organization (NESO) has called upon Arunachal Pradesh Governor B D Mishra to strongly pursue the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and University Grants Commission (UGC) for cancellation of final semester exams in the state.
The appeal from NESO comes days after the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) had called upon Union HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal to cancel the examinations in the state.
The NESO, in a representation to Governor Mishra on Wednesday said “the ministry and UGC’s decision to conduct the examinations has left the students, parents, teachers and other stakeholders confused and in chaos.”
“Most of the final semester students of Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), Doimukh are not ready to appear for exams due to the fear of Covid-19 pandemic, especially in the Itanagar Capital Complex Region where the lone central university is located. Further, the month-long lockdown in the region has severely affected the mental and emotional well-being of the students,” the NESO said.
The UGC in its latest guidelines had said that universities must conduct the final year/final semester exams before September 30.
The NESO said “other universities and institutions in the state are also unsure about the exams and many of its students are against the ministry and UGC’s move to push for exams during such a serious health crisis which has affected the entire nation.”
The students’ organization said “while many of the offices, schools, factories, public places etc are closed, it does not find any merit in conducting exams for the final semester students in the universities.”
Many of the students are at their native places effectively following lockdown and other measures. However, making the exams mandatory will compel them to come out of their houses and travel thereby increasing the chances of exposure. Any large-scale outbreak of Covid-19 cases resulting from the final semester students appearing for exams across the state shall be disastrous for us and greatly undo the current efforts put in by the frontline workers in the state,” the NESO said.
The NESO is a conglomeration of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF), All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Garo Students’ Union (GSU), Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) and Naga Students’ Federation (NSF).