Teachers, students oppose DU’S plan for online tests
NEWDELHI: The Delhi University’s decision to conduct ‘online computer-based entrance test’ for selected undergraduate, all postgraduate and research courses from the upcoming academic session, has not gone down well with many students and teachers.
The university recently invited bids from well-established/reputed firms for computer-based test delivery, administration and processing for Delhi University Entrance Test (DUET) 2018.
Teachers raised the issue that while the university is yet to issue a statement on conducting only online entrance tests for all postgraduate, Mphil and PHD courses, a tender has been floated to select a firm to conduct the process.
DU Teachers’ Association (DUTA) president Rajib Ray said that the university should give the option of both online and offline mode of taking exams to the students.
“Many students are not used to giving online tests as they don’t have access to computers. I think making it only online will create problems so the university should give both options,” Ray said.
Academic council member AK Bhagi on Monday wrote a letter to DU vice-chancellor Yogesh Tyagi regarding the entrance test and outsourcing the test for nonteaching appointments and admissions to private agencies.
“Online test should be held by the university itself and not by any private agency. It is necessary to maintain secrecy and sanctity of examination. No notification has been issued by the university that the entrance test will be conducted only through online mode,” Bhagi said.
DU Students’ Union (DUSU) president Rocky Tuseed has also demanded that there should be an option of both online and offline entrance tests.
The decision to conduct computer-based online entrance test for some undergraduate courses, all postgraduate, Mphil and PHD courses was taken last year. However, the university shelved the plan to conduct it for postgraduate, Mphil and PHD courses due to opposition from students.
The online test was only conducted for some undergraduate courses last year.
However, an admission committee member said the decision on online entrance test was passed last year and it was only being implemented this year as it could not be done previously.
“The decision was already taken. It couldn’t be done last year due to opposition from students but everyone now knows that the tests will be online,” the member said.