Bisma Bhat
Srinagar May 29: Two days after post-graduate students and the students of select professional under-graduate courses were promoted to the next semester, the University of Kashmir has asked them to deposit the examination fee.
On May 27, Kashmir University has decided to promote the post-graduate and the students of select professional under-graduate courses to the next semester on the performance of their internal assessments and there will be no term-end semester examinations.
However, authorities have asked students to pay the examination fee and extended the last date for submission to June 10.
A post-graduate student of chemistry department told The Kashmir Monitor that when there are no exams why they have to pay the fee. “What for they require exam fee when they have promoted students to next semester,” he said.
A member of the Kashmir University Joint Class Representative Association said most of the students come from poor families and they are the worst affected by the COVID 19 lockdown.
“My father is a laborer and he has not earned anything since August last year. We have exhausted all our savings. I used to do a part-time job after university hours to support my family, but that too has gone due to the lockdown. I cannot afford fee at this point in time,” he said.
Syed Danish Kashani, another representative said the varsity has fixed Rs 1650 as examination fee. “Students cannot afford full fees in these times. If any student has submitted, the university should refund,” he said.
Professor Shahid Rasool, Media Spokesperson, Kashmir University, said they are considering fee concession. “But students have to submit the exam fee. Students will be given assignments, there will be internal assessments and all this involves cost. Someone has to evaluate their work,” he said.
“We are considering reduction of exam fee but students have to submit full exam fee first and later they will get refund of the amount that will be laid off, “he said.
