Delhi University students have demanded that their final year exams be held in the online open book mode, contending that they have not had adequate library visits, laboratory practicals and reference work to do justice to the offline exam syllabus.
Nearly 1,000 students from various departments and belonging to various student bodies of the university held a protest on April 4 outside the arts faculty in the university campus, even threatening a hunger strike if their demands are not met.
The university had announced that exams would be held in the physical mode for students of the sixth semester. It is almost after two years that the university will be holding exams physically for students. The exams are likely to be held in May and June.
Authorities of various colleges affiliated to DU claim that they had begun offline classes on popular demand and there was no question of going back online now, whether for classes or for exams.
Students have pleaded a lack of preparedness for offline exams, citing laxities in the teaching process and not enough chance for reference work. Besides, they argued that they have become used to the online mode of exams and cannot suddenly switch back to physical exams.
University authorities, on their part, have mulled over mock exams to get students accustomed to physical exams again. They have stressed that online exams are not an ideal way of assessing students, promising prolonged library classes and extra classes to make up for any learning loss.