Bisma Bhat
Srinagar: More than 600 students of Government College of Engineering and Technology (GCET) Safapora are staring at bleak future as Cluster University Kashmir has failed to conduct their online examination.
After the University Grant Commission (UGC) directive, all universities conducted the examination of the students online and promoted students to next semester.
However, B. Tech students of 1st and 3rd semester of GCET Safapora affiliated with Cluster University Kashmir have not been promoted to next semester as varsity has failed to conduct an online internal assessment of the students.
Earlier in June, varsity in a notification had asked B. Tech students of semester 1st to deposit fee for the examination that was to be held in the month of July.
“B.Tech batch 2018, semester 3rd shall be considered for the examination along with semester 3rd batch 2018 of undergraduate and integrated courses (UG/IG). In the meantime, the college will conduct the internal assessment of the students of B.Tech 3rd semester students and submit the same to the University. The decision for the conduct of examination of 3rd-semester students of UG/IG and B.Tech shall be taken separately in July,” reads the notification of Cluster University.
On July 20, Principal GCET in a meeting with Cluster University informed that end semester exams of B. Tech Semester 1st batch 2019 are overdue.
Moreover, the principal noted that syllabus of B. Tech semester 3rd batch 2018 has been completed and college is ready to start 4th semester Google classes.
Conversely, the varsity has failed to conduct an internal assessment of both B. Tech 1st and 3rd semester.
“Around 300 students got admitted in Safapora College after qualifying a common entrance test in 2019. Since then, we have been in semester 1st,” said Asma Jan, one of the students from the Safapora College.
After COVID-19 lockdown, students of 1st semester were taking their classes online. In June, college authorities started online classes of their 2nd-semester curriculum without conducting the examination of 1st semester.
“We are not sure about our semester, whether we are in the 1st or 2nd semester. Every other college in the valley has promoted its students either through online assessment or proper online examination. But our college is ruining our career,” said Asma.
Another student of 3rd semester wishing anonymity told The Kashmir Monitor that they have already boycotted classes of semester 4th as they cannot take the pressure of two semesters simultaneously.
“University and college authorities are playing with our future. Our degrees have already been delayed by one year. We are from the 2018 batch. We should have been in the 5th semester but we are still in the 3rd semester. The varsity has not taken any decision about our examinations,” he said.
Students have approached Commissioner Secretary of Higher Education, Director of Colleges, VC of Cluster University, and Examination Controller Cluster University, but to no avail.
Examination controller Cluster University, Dr. Khurshid Ahmad Mir said: “Due to the pandemic, the examinations have been overdue. As of now, their online classes are taking place. When the situation eases, their examination will be conducted in offline mode.”
He said that the timeline of examination has not been decided as the situation is precarious. “Few students came to my office and said that their syllabus is not completed. That is why their examination has not been conducted yet,” he said.
However, the principal had already apprised the controller about the completion of their syllabus in June this year. “We have decided if the situation eases out, we will take their offline exam. If not, we will club both semesters and hold exams after giving relaxation in their syllabus,” Mir added.
