The Delhi University, in a surprising move, has postponed the heavily criticised Open Book Examination (OBE) by 10 days. This comes at a time when the CBSE and ICSE boards have cancelled the board exams and the teachers and students of the university have been pointing out why they feel the OBE is not feasible and is discriminatory. The exams were supposed to start from July 1.
The new date sheets for all UG and PG programmes including SOL and NCWEB of final term exams in OBE mode will be notified by examination branch on July 3 and exam will start from July 10. This decision has obviously not gone down well with the protesting teachers and students. "After the tweet by the HRD Minister on June 24 and wide media coverage of the recommendations regarding cancellation of examinations for terminal semester students, all of us have been waiting for the UGC notification and DU's notice regarding scrapping of OBE. Today's DU notice regarding postponement says it is being done because of COVID situation. What COVID situation can be contained in 10 days? The news of postponement has increased agony and stress amongst students. This also exposes callous attitude of the DU VC and lack of concern for students' physical and mental well-being," said Dr Aabha Dev Habib, Treasurer, Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA). "We request UGC to put this confusion to rest by immediate notification for cancellation of all examinations," she added.
Dr Saikat Ghosh, who teaches English and is also part of the Academic Council, pointed out that the university conducted a mock test on June 25 and this 10-day extention is nothing but buying time to try and fix the glitches that have surfaced. "The postponement has to be understood in the light of yesterday's mock test flop show. The administration wants to buy time to try and rectify technical shortcomings. Hence, the postponement has no relation to students' welfare. It is an act of extreme selfishness on the part of the VC to insist on going ahead with the OBE despite the difficulties faced by students and the irreparable harm caused to the sanctity and credibility of the examinations process," he added.
The teachers also added that this is nothing but a stupid and stubborn step. The VC will have to cancel the exams eventually, they feel. They also pointed out that the mental stability if the students will be affected adversely due to these 'erratic' decisions. "This is the most stupid decision they could have taken. This is now affecting the mental stability of the students. I'm getting so many messages from them. This is really insane," said Dr Saumyajit Bhattacharya, who teaches Economics at Kirori Mal College.
