BJB College students demand cancellation of final semesters

Bhubaneswar:  Demanding cancellation of final semester exams amid the COVID-19 pandemic, students of BJB Autonomous College today staged a protest on the college premises wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing.

The students resorted to the strike after Utkal University issued an official notification regarding conduct of the semester examinations in its various affiliated colleges from July 7.

The agitating students questioned as to why the university’s administration decided to conduct the examinations at a time when the state Government has already declared June and July as the most crucial months for the state fighting COVID-19.  The protesters called on the authorities to either cancel the scheduled examinations or make alternative arrangements for academic promotion.

The students demanded that the Higher Education Department cancel the examinations considering that congregation of students in college campuses, their stay in the hostels and use of common rooms and canteens might risk spread of the infection in them.

Earlier, students of  Utkal University and Rama Devi University had staged protest against the decision to conduct semester examinations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.