By Manjima Dhakal
Kathmandu, July 29: Students studying at different universities are now taking their postponed examinations after a long wait. Students look happy after being able to appear in the stalled examinations, because they could continue further studies only after passing the lower-level exams.
Although students seem happy to attend the examinations, public health experts have worried whether the examination centres could be breeding ground for the new wave of coronavirus.
Currently, Tribhuvan University (TU) is conducting the examinations of bachelor first year, second year and third year, which are delayed by one year. It is also conducting the examinations of Masters’ level.
Besides TU, Purbanchal University (PU) is also conducting the examinations with a target of completing all examinations by mid-August. Likewise, the National Examination Board (NEB) has also published the routine of Grade XII examinations, which will begin from August 15.
Although authorities of education are hoping to complete the halted examinations within mid-August, people started criticising the ways the examinations are being conducted. Many people in social networks criticised that the TU has been conducting examinations without abiding by the health protocol in a critical situation.
Dr. Rabindra Pandey, public health expert, said it was not the right time to conduct the examinations in physical presence because a large number of examinees will be in same room up to three hours.
“However, concerning the future of students, we cannot say that the examinations should be delayed further because other sectors have already resumed their activities. So, only examination centres cannot be the source of coronavirus transmission,” he added.
Pandey suggested following health protocol seriously and asked the authorities for strong monitoring at the examination centres.
Prof. Dr. Shiva Lal Bhusal, rector of the TU, said the TU had been monitoring examination centres of the Kathmandu Valley by forming a COVID-19 control taskforce itself. TU has also asked all District COVID-19 Crisis Management Committee (DCCMC) to monitor the examination centres.
Though cases of COVID-19 have, of late, increased, the university is not in mood to halt the examinations now because it has just started after long wait.
Meanwhile, PU has not yet published the result of its virtual examinations it conducted last year. Dr. Surya Prasad Sangraula, former examination controller of the university, said they could not check the examinations copies until now due to technical problems. The process will move forward only after getting approval from the academic council.