Maharashtra: MBBS students intensify protest against in-person exams in June

Some of them have even taken to Twitter to voice their dissent and demand an alternative

Maharashtra: MBBS students intensify protest against in-person exams in June

Some MBBS students have moved court against the decision to hold in-person exams amid the prevailing pandemic. Representation pic

Following an extension in the statewide lockdown, MBBS students have intensified their protest against their second and third year in-person exams scheduled to begin on June 10. According to the students, it was completely unjustified to ask them to appear for in-person exams under such circumstances. Some of them have even taken to Twitter to voice their dissent and demand an alternative.

One of the major concerns raised by the students is the living condition in the hostels, as they fear the infection would spread without any possible scope of social distancing. Another concern is the difficulty in travelling to their respective colleges as many stay at far off places.

Speaking to mid-day, student Ojas Raje said, “Everyone cannot afford a private vehicle. Most of us have to depend on public transport. And even if you could have a private vehicle, explaining the reason for travel at every checkpost is going to be a task.” Adding to this, another student Ruchi Anand said, “Many students live quite far from their respective colleges and many are from out of the state as well.”

Also Read: Maharashtra sees steep rise in fresh Covid-19 deaths

Student Purva Tendolkar tweeted, “In our hostels we will be sharing the premises with final year students as well as resident doctors who are currently on Covid-19 duty. How will the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) ensure that we will not be infected?”

“Hostels are going to be the biggest spreader of the infection with four students sharing one room and other spaces such as dining rooms and washrooms. Exams continue for almost a month, it is not like a day’s affair,” tweeted Ankita Rajeev.

Throwing light on a different aspect, student Ravi Pawar tweeted, “Second and third year exams are not the ones that give us degrees. Then why have such a strict policy regarding exams? And if taking an offline exam is so important to ensure quality then why were lectures not held as usual?”

Each of the students who have tweeted on the issue has tagged the MUHS as well as Maharashtra Medical Education Minister Amit Deshmukh. Some students’ unions have also written letters to Deshmukh seeking relief. Some have also moved court against the decision.

10
Day in June the MBBS second and third year exams are scheduled to begin

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels