In his letter, Mr. Shashi Tharoor pointed out that students are not looking to get rid of their exams but are concerned about the offline exam method offered. He requested the intervention of Mr. Khan on the matter, who is also the Chancellor of the Universities of Kerala.
New Delhi: Congressman Shashi Tharoor said on Tuesday that he wrote to Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan after receiving messages from “unvaccinated” university students in Kerala protesting the decision to hold events. offline exams during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In his letter, Mr. Tharoor pointed out that students are not looking to get rid of their exams but are concerned about the offline exam method offered. He requested the intervention of Mr. Khan on the matter, who is also the Chancellor of the Universities of Kerala.
Mr Tharoor said the decision to hold exams offline must be reconsidered. “There is growing evidence to suggest that with the new variant of Covid, young people are likely to be susceptible to the transmission and effects of the virus as well…” Mr. Tharoor said in his letter.
“The risk to health incurred is further compounded by the fact that many students still have not received the first vaccine against Covid and even fewer have managed to obtain both vaccines … pregnant women are particularly vulnerable,” added Mr. Tharoor.
There are also logistical constraints such as the reduced frequency of public transport services and the physical discomfort of wearing double masks, gloves for three hours to take exams, Tharoor said.
The Thiruvananthapuram MP said he was also aware of the delay in processing final semester results which would put their postgraduate admissions at risk.
Mr Shashi Tharoor suggested canceling offline exams and conducting exams for the essential papers online.
“As long as there are adequate provisions support offered for those segments of our student community that may not have the infrastructure to give such examinations, the decision to convert all examinations to the online mode would be overwhelmingly welcomed….” Mr. Tharoor said in his letter.
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