Med exams begin amid opposition

MUMBAI: Nearly six months after exams were originally scheduled to take place, undergraduate second- and third-year medical, dental and diploma course exams commenced across colleges in the state on Thursday. Nearly 40,000 students will be appearing for their winter session exams in the physical mode between June 10 and 30 across Maharashtra.

Officials from the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) confirmed that exams were conducted without any trouble. According to information shared by MUHS, of the 12,242 students supposed to appear for the theory exam on Thursday, 11,771 were present. While 35 students remained absent due to their Covid positive status, 12 students were sent back due to lack of RT-PCR test report. Around 424 students remained absent without any intimation.

“Exam centres strictly followed sanitisation and social distancing rules and we had to produce a negative RT-PCR test at the time of entry. Our worry is going back to hostels where we will be sharing rooms and bathrooms with other students,” said a student who appeared for her paper in Sangli.

For the past few days, students have taken to social media sites to share their anger and fear of being “forced” to appear for exams in the physical mode despite the state registering some of the highest numbers of Covid-19 cases in the country.

“As if the pandemic was not enough, incessant rains across several districts also affected basic travel for students at present,” said a student.