GUWAHATI: The Assam unit of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) on Sunday submitted a memorandum to Assam government seeking promotion of college students as they are facing “extreme uncertainties” and “mental pressure” owing to the coronavirus-induced nationwide lockdown.
The students’ union, in a letter to Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonwaol and education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, asked the government to ensure promotion of first and second year students. Besides this, they also sought passing of all final year students wherein 10% marks will be added to their previous year’s marks.
Due to present COVID19 crisis, students belonging to the poor and marginalized communities are under economical and psychological distress. Most students are dependent on their parents financially or on hefty educational loans to pursue their education. But the double attack by COVID19 lockdown has constricted their sources of income for families making it difficult for them to sustain themselves at present, while the classes being cancelled has increased their worries further. There is an impounding uncertainty on the status of examination of their courses in Universities, and the situation at present looks grim due to increasing numbers of transmission cases in Assam, the pandemic is looking far from being under control. The annual flooding season during monsoon has arrived, making it physically impossible for students to travel back to Universities to appear for examination. Also, most of the University Hostel facilities have been transformed into Quarantine Centers making any such option of physical examination an invitation to further community spread of the virus. Online Examination, an option which was proposed by UGC, was rejected by the Education Minister himself as we NSUI cited that poor network connectivity is in interior areas of Assam makes it impossible for them to attend online classes.
In this behalf, Assam NSUI under the leadership of NSUI National General Secretary Sri Anushesh Sarma has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister expressing the demand of the student’s community of Assam. He states that “We the Assam NSUI in students’ interest requested the authorities to kindly consider the option to compulsory promote the students in first and second year to their subsequent semesters. And also contemplate an option that the final year students should be allowed to graduate based on the performance in previous years with an additional 10% marks. This would ensure every student could graduate in time without risking the health and safety of themselves and that of their family members. Furthermore, in the interest of financial security of the students fraternity, the government should waive their fees under financial package provided by the Central Government. It is also requested to waive off interest on educational loan for at least 6 month while providing an extra six month to the start of repayment date of such students so that such loans by lending institutions do not turn into NPAs.” A copy of the memorandum is enclosed for your further consideration.
“We demand promotion of students across the universities and colleges of Assam and fee waiver for present enrolled students,” said
Anushesh Sharma, National General Secretary, NSUI.
