What’s OBE?
After ruling out the possibility of conducting exams physically amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Delhi University decided to take the tests remotely in open-book format. Students will be given four hours to download question papers, finish the test and upload answer scripts on the common university portal or email PDFS.
DU’S arguments
DU has said OBES are optional and students will get another chance to sit for the physical papers. The University claims it has provided all possible options to students. Officials said the students can also ask their colleges to send question papers via email and return answer scripts the same way.
The opposition
Both teachers and students have opposed the exam format for two reasons: Many students do not have required mobile devices and/or internet connections. Additionally, internet connectivity is weak in parts of the country.
The use of new format without any teaching or training.
MAY 14: DU said it might adopt an alternative exam mode for final semester students
MAY 30: DU confirms it will conduct OBE for final-year students from July 1
JUNE 26: DU postpones exams by
10 days
JULY 4: Varsity begins first round of mock tests of online OBE. The process is wrought with glitches JULY 8: Exams postponed again after some students move Delhi HC against OBES
JULY 7 : Second round of mock
tests begin
AUG 7: Court allows the university
to conduct OBES
The official added that the OBE is “purely optional”.
“It’s an opportunity for students to complete their course at the earliest. Students who can’t take the exams now will get an opportunity later to appear in the usual pen-and-paper exam.”
Several colleges in the university also said they expect some students to make use of their information and communications technology (ICT) facilities during the exams. Pratyush Vatsala, principal, Lakshmibai College, said, “Some staff members will be in college from tomorrow to help students via email or over calls. We have also set up an OBE control room to assist students. We have received some requests from students for the college’s ICT facility to upload their question papers.”
The university had asked the college principals to get applications from students who need ICT infrastructure for the exams. The students can inform the colleges beforehand and visit the campus to use their facilities.
Some students, however, said they will still be left out.
Deepak Gupta, 23, a visually impaired student pursuing an MA in English from St Stephen’s College said he could not arrange for a scribe. “I am stuck at home [in Bihar’s Rohtas district] due to the lockdown. The University administration had said they can only arrange scribes for students in Delhi. I could not find anyone to help me write an exam here. I have already cleared the PHD entrance test for IIT Delhi. I am scared of losing this opportunity due to the delay in getting my masters degree,” he said.
DU faculty members too expressed apprehensions about the process.
Pankaj Garg, an associate professor at Rajdhani College, said, “Students have faced a lot of problems in downloading question papers and uploading the answer scripts during the mock tests. Even though the university said it will conduct another round of exams for students who will not be able to attend now, their results will get delayed, which might affect many opportunities for them.”
DU teachers association (DUTA) member Abha Dev Habib said, “Not even half of the students could register online during the mock tests and the university is still going ahead and conducting the exams. We just hope our students do not get demoralised if they aren’t able to write the exams now.”
DEEPAK GUPTA, a visually impaired student pursuing an MA in English from St Stephen’s College