Varsity students say no to in-person examinations

The students of Fatima Jinnah Women’s University (FJWU) and various other colleges staged a two-hour-long protest in the scorching heat outside the institution till 1pm against physical examinations on Monday.

The students held banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding that examinations should be held online.

The students came out of the university at 10am, chanting slogans and staged a demonstration in front of the university gate. They said all subjects were taught online amid the pandemic and the education authorities had promised that the exams would also be online.

However, the administration had now announced to conduct physical exams, which was not acceptable to them. The students said they were ready to give online exams.

Read Protest against in-person exams turns violent

A large contingent of lady police also arrived on the site yielding batons. The district officials said that they had no objection to students holding a peaceful protest however they would resort to action if the students disrupted the peace. The police contingent surrounded the protesters while the students kept chanting slogans, peacefully.

Three students, who identified themselves as Shagufta, Shumaila and Mehreen while talking to The Express Tribune, said that they had complained against online teaching as they felt that it was not productive or fulfilling their educational needs.

A spokesperson for FJWU said the students' objections had been heard and resolved. He said the students were being incited by vested individuals to disrupt academic harmony. He added the university operates under government directives and would only follow official directives.

Meanwhile, the students of various other colleges also protested in front of the press club. They carried placards inscribed with slogans against physical exams. Other protesting students said that they would not appear in physical examinations, adding that the management of all colleges was also against physical exams. The students said if their demand was not accepted, they would challenge the decision to hold physical examinations in court.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2021.