CUK students demand online classes, exams to avoid COVID-19 infection

Srinagar: The students of Central University of Kashmir (CUK) on Wednesday demanded for the conduction of their regular classes and the scheduled examination through online mode after a couple of students and faculty members from the university tested positive for COVID-19 infection.

 “Two students from the Department of Law tested Covid19 positive on April 13. Despite this, the CUK authorities are continuing with the offline examinations of several semesters,” a concerned student told the Rising Kashmir.

The students alleged that mandatory Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are not being adhered at the varsity campus.

They further added that amidst the second wave of pandemic when the health experts and administration have urged people to strictly adhere to the COVID guidelines, the CUK besides conducting exams is unnecessarily conducting other functions in the campus which could pave way to a massive disaster here.

“Besides offline examination, the CUK is not shying away from holding seminars, presentations, vivas etc instead of following the advisable and safe online mode of education for the interest of students”, the students complained.

 “All the students of BA, LLB 8th semester are hereby directed to report at IT Conference Hall, CUK, Tulmula Ganderbal on 13th April, 2021 at 10:15 am for participation in the seminar on “Traffic Management in Kashmir: Problems, Perspectives and A Way Forward”. The attendance of the students is mandatory as this semester has been specially chosen for this program as a part of their compulsory internship”, the notice issued in this regard reads.

The students alleged the anti-pandemic guidelines are brazenly being floated in the campus and students’ pleas have been brazenly ignored regarding the online mode of examination. “There is no following of SOPs in the campus. Wearing facemasks, using sanitizers and maintaining social distance is a distant dream here. All etiquettes are blatantly being floated in the campus”, the students said.

Notably the CUK has informed BA, LLB 8th semesters students to report on 15 & 16 April at 10:30 am for Moot Court and Court Diary Presentation.

They questioned when educational institutions across J&K have been closed due to fear of surge in Covid19 pandemic numbers, why CUK authorities are playing with our lives.

The students demanded they should not be compelled to attend varsity unless there is a decline in pandemic cases and appealed online mode of education should be preferred until the situation improves.

Giving his clarification on the issue, Vice-Chancellor Central University of Kashmir (CUK), Prof Mehraj-ud-Din, admitted that a student and few faculty members tested Covid19 positive some days back and maintained the University has taken all required precautions in this regard.

“Yes, a student and a few faculty members tested positive for Covid19 infection a few days back. We have isolated them and directed their immediate contacts to go through Rapid Antigen Test (RAT)”, the VC said. He added, “With the grace of Almighty, the faculty members later on turned negative and the campus is functioning normally”.

He said the major portion of class work is almost off in the campus and only a few classes are being held right now.

“We have taken and are taking all kinds of precautions to keep the pandemic away. There is no need to worry. Besides sending immediate contacts of positive cases for RAT, the campus is continuously being sanitized with anti-virus chemicals for the better health of students and staff members”, Prof. Mehraj-ud-Din said.