Faced with exam boycotting protests by students over hike in utility and service charges on hostellers, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has come up with an innovative way of conducting exams — through WhatsApp and email.
According to the reports, the university administration has decided to adopt this alternative approach to keep the academic session within its scheduled time.
In a letter sent to all Centre chairpersons Monday, School of International Studies (SIS) Dean Aswini K Mohapatra said the decision was taken “in view of the extraordinary situation” on campus, after a meeting of the Deans of Schools and Chairpersons of Special Centres with the Vice-Chancellor and other officials. It could not be confirmed if the step was being taken in all Schools.
“There was a consensus in the meeting held on December 16 at 9:30 am that in the academic interest of JNU students, an alternate mode of test in the end semester examination for MPhil/PhD and MA Programme be conducted,” he wrote, as quoted by The Indian Express.
According to the proposed method, question papers will be sent to the students by their course teachers which they have to submit to the respective course teachers by December 21.
“Students may submit the answer scripts either through email or images of hand-written scripts through WhatsApp or personally to course teachers,” Mohapatra was quoted as saying.
However, there is no method or procedure to ensure transparency and that students do not cheat.
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