The Dibrugarh University Post-Graduate Students Union has urged the university authorities not to conduct online examinations at the university level and for all the colleges under it.

The union also submitted a memorandum to the vice-chancellor citing concerns on mental health of students.

Dibrugarh University PGSU president-in-charge Pallavjyoti Hazarika, citing the memorandum, said most of the students studying in the university and in many colleges under it were unable to cope with the online classes because of many technical reasons.

“We urge the university authorities to conduct at least two months of physical classes before the exams,” the memorandum read.

Several students from remote places are unable to take up online classes being conducted in many colleges and in universities. Principals of many colleges cited lack of proper network and Android phones as reasons.

“The student fraternity couldn’t take necessary books, laptops and so on along with them while leaving for home. We have urged the authorities not to hold any kind of seminar or project during the period,” the union’s general secretary, Rahul Chetry, citing the memorandum said.

“On the one hand, they have the pressure of exams and on the other, inability to cope with online classes,” Hazarika added.

Dibrugarh University vice-chancellor professor Ranjit Tamuli said conducting online examinations is not viable in the current scenario.

Citing various differences between physical and online exams, he said students are not prepared to appear for online exams.

“Network issues and unavailability of Android phones with many students is another concern,” Tamuli said.

Education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held a video-conference with the vice-chancellors of 17 universities of the state on April 23. Sarma asked for suggestions from all the VCs on completion of courses, conducting exams, declaration of results and so on.

The vice-chancellors suggested that the academic year for semester courses should start from September 1. Withdrawal of summer vacation has also been considered. Teachers will conduct classes even on holidays and weekends on completion of the lockdown period.

They also suggested that classes could be held for the final semesters of graduation and post-graduation levels as well as for classes X and XII maintaining strict health norms.

“Completion of course for the final years is important. Conducting exams on 50 per cent of syllabus of the final-year courses will affect their careers in the future. They will not get the knowledge of half of the syllabus,” Tamuli said.

“We are waiting for the guidelines from the state government on revising the academic year. Following the guidelines of UGC and the state government is mandatory,” he said.