Karnataka: MBBS students demand postponement of exams

BENGALURU: MBBS students are demanding that their annual exams, slated to be held in January next year, be postponed because online classes have been ineffective.
An All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO), Karnataka, delegation met the vice-chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) and submitted a memorandum listing problems faced by students.Ajay Kamath, state secretary, AIDSO, said in a release that in a Twitter storm on Tuesday, more than 25,000 medicos wanted exams to be postponed. Several students took to Twitter on Wednesday too, demanding a response from RGUHS.
“Postpone Exams and ensure sufficient Theory and Practical Classes before announcing Exam Timetable!” AIDSO Karnataka tweeted.
AIDSO wants 2nd, 3rd and 4th year exams deferred. Another group of MBBS students from the batch of 2016 wrote to RGUHS on Wednesday seeking postponement of their final year exams. “It would be in the best interests of students and the university to postpone exams and ensure we are good doctors rather than ‘Fast Forward Graduates’ with minimum knowledge,” the letter said.
Medicos say online classes were ineffective from an exam point of view. “Significant amounts of clinical portions were not covered and case discussions are not as effective when held online,” students said. “Many rural students did not have access to online classes due to lack of network and other issues.”
However, RGHUS said students have more than 45 days to prepare and exams will not be postponed. Dr S Sacchidanand, vice-chancellor, RGUHS, said students had eight months holidays and online class was conducted.
“I agree practical classes were not held,” Dr Sacchidanand said. “For that reason alone, we have asked colleges to reopen from December 1. The focus will be on practicals and clinicals only.”