Students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) have been protesting against the examination fee hike. They decided to boycott the end-semester exams. However, the university has come up with a rather unique approach to conduct the exam. According to media reports, JNU wants students to appear for exams via WhatsApp and email. The course teachers will send the question papers to students registered for the courses of MPhil and MA programme. Students have been asked to submit the answer scripts to their teachers through email of images of hand-written scripts. The decision has been taken in a meeting of the Deans of Schools and Chairpersons of Special Centres with the Vice-Chancellor, and other officials held on December 16, 2019. JNUSU Remains Defiant, Says Will Continue Protest Until Demands Are Met. 

Aswini K Mohapatra, the dean of School of International Studies (SIS) in a letter had directed the centre chairpersons to abide by the decision, noted the Indian Express.

How Will JNU Hold the Exam?

As per the letter by Dean Mohapatra, the course teachers for MPhil and MA Programme would send the question papers to the students registered for courses. Students after participating in the exam can submit the answer scripts via email or can submit images of handwritten scripts on WhatsApp. They can also submit the answer sheets personally to their evaluators. He further noted that the last date for students to submit their answer sheets is December 21, 2019. If any student fails to submit the same, they will be getting an additional day. JNU Explains Rationale Behind Fee Hike, Says University Has a Deficit of Rs 45 Crores, So 'Levying Service Charge is Necessary'. 

Talking about the recent exam pattern, both JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) and JNU Students Union (JNUSU) have called the move “absurd” and “ludicrous.” They further added that the decision was “mockery” of a serious academic process.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 17, 2019 01:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).