New Delhi: The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) demanded suspension of classes and cancellation of exams since many students and teachers have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. DUTA wrote to varsity’s acting vice-chancellor PC Joshi regarding the matter on Friday.
The varsity had said on Thursday that it will take stock of the exam schedule in view of the students’ demands for the exams to be postponed for the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
“The second wave of the pandemic has wreaked havoc in the lives of all sections of the university community. The loss of so many lives is tragic and is causing physical and psychological trauma to all,” the DUTA letter was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Students, teachers and karmacharis (staff) are not being able to cope with the spread of COVID-19 and the effect it is having on every individual life, the letter said, adding that it is incumbent upon the university administration to be sensitive to the trauma all around and take measures to alleviate the stress in people’s lives.
“The fact that students are battling illness of self and family members is evident from the fact that the attendance in classes has significantly dropped… Hence, the DUTA demands that classes be suspended as students and teachers are not mentally and physically in a state to continue with the teaching learning process,” the body wrote.
“… the University must take a sensitive view of the situation that students and teachers find themselves in – no one is in a position to write or conduct examinations at this moment.
“Hence, we request you to consider cancelling examinations for all students and decide upon alternative means to evaluate students. Deadlines for submission of Internal Assessment must be extended,” the teachers said.
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