The teachers of Jadavpur University have written to vice-chancellor Suranjan Das requesting him to call a meeting of the examination board to decide on the mode of examination.
“We expect that the university’s examination board will take a decision so that the sanctity of our university’s examinations is maintained. In our earlier deputation, we have already mentioned that we will not conduct any online examination henceforth,” the teachers wrote on Thursday.
Parthapartim Roy, the general secretary of the Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association (Juta), who has signed the letter, said they are seeking a uniform exam pattern across the faculties because the university has already shifted from online to offline classes.
While writing to the teachers during a confinement of pro-vice-chancellor Samantak Das by the students on Monday, Roy said in a text message: “Fetsu (Faculty of Engineering Technology Students’ Union) wants the classes of final year in online mode. Here we want to mention that on 8th February, Fetsu demanded classes for all years strictly be held in offline mode. Obviously the next demand will be conduction of the examination in online mode (in the final year).”
The Telegraph reported last week that the faculty council in engineering and technology resolved last week that teachers could take online classes for BTech fourth-year students as many of them who are from outside the city are finding it difficult to find an accommodation.
“We are sure, the demand for the online classes will end up in a demand for online end-semester exams. We want the examination board to decide on the mode,” said Roy, an associate professor at the physics department. “Offline exams are a must for a transparent evaluation,” he added.
The JU examination board will meet on Monday.
The Telegraph had reported on June 25 last year a section of JU teachers from the three faculties — engineering, science and arts — told vice-chancellor that students “are sharing answers among themselves” during online exams and suggested that the stipulated test duration be enforced across faculties to curb the malpractice.
The teachers had said they gave the suggestions so that “nobody can question the validity of their degrees from a legal point of view”.
If the online examinations are still allowed questions will be raised about the sanctity of the examinations and the potential recruiters will doubt the merit of the graduating students, said a professor of the engineering faculty.