UAF students demand postponement of exams
The university administration does not have a back-up power supply system for examinations
The university administration does not have a back-up power supply system for examinations. PHOTO: FILE
FAISALABAD:
Dozens of students of Faisalabad Agriculture University on Saturday boycotted exams and staged a sit-in outside the examination centre, saying their exams should be postponed till the weather improved.
The protesters chanted slogans against the vice chancellor and the administration for not providing drinking water and cooling facilities in the examination room.
“It is unbearably hot in the examination hall. There is no ventilation and it is difficult to breathe,” said Shabana, one of the protesters. She said there was no power at the examination centre.
“The university administration does not have a back-up power supply system for examinations,” said Umair, another student. “We cannot take exams like this. We want them to be postponed till the weather improves or until the university makes proper arrangements in this regard.”
The students blocked the road next to the university for an hour. In a statement, UAF spokesman Muhammad Jalal Arif said boycotts and protests were futile.
“The exams will be held according to schedule. Around 20,000 students take them regularly,” the statement said.
“Orders have been issued to open the university hostel for sehri and iftari while generators will be operational and measures have been taken to provide chilled water in hostels,” the UAF spokesman said.
He said the protesting students were disrupting exams at the behest of some outsiders. He said the UAF management had taken steps to facilitate students in the harsh weather. “Drinking water is available across the campus,” he added. He said the library, the mosque and Iqbal Auditorium were open till midnight. “Some miscreants are inciting students to protest against the university administration for their vested interests,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2015.
Dozens of students of Faisalabad Agriculture University on Saturday boycotted exams and staged a sit-in outside the examination centre, saying their exams should be postponed till the weather improved.
The protesters chanted slogans against the vice chancellor and the administration for not providing drinking water and cooling facilities in the examination room.
“It is unbearably hot in the examination hall. There is no ventilation and it is difficult to breathe,” said Shabana, one of the protesters. She said there was no power at the examination centre.
“The university administration does not have a back-up power supply system for examinations,” said Umair, another student. “We cannot take exams like this. We want them to be postponed till the weather improves or until the university makes proper arrangements in this regard.”
The students blocked the road next to the university for an hour. In a statement, UAF spokesman Muhammad Jalal Arif said boycotts and protests were futile.
“The exams will be held according to schedule. Around 20,000 students take them regularly,” the statement said.
“Orders have been issued to open the university hostel for sehri and iftari while generators will be operational and measures have been taken to provide chilled water in hostels,” the UAF spokesman said.
He said the protesting students were disrupting exams at the behest of some outsiders. He said the UAF management had taken steps to facilitate students in the harsh weather. “Drinking water is available across the campus,” he added. He said the library, the mosque and Iqbal Auditorium were open till midnight. “Some miscreants are inciting students to protest against the university administration for their vested interests,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2015.