NEHUSU demands equal digital access to all students

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 27, 2020

The North Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) on Thursday sought the intervention of the state’s education minister, Lahkmen Rymbui, for ensuring equal digital access to all students who will be appearing for the upcoming examinations.

“However, if a decision has been reached to hold the final exams online the NEHU Students’ Union requests your intervention with the State Government to ensure equal digital access to all the students by providing necessary smart gadgets and guarantee internet access/good connectivity and uninterrupted power supply for all students, well before the commencement of exams,” NEHUSU president, Yshua Lyngdoh said in a letter to Rymbui.

The NEHUSU was referring to the minister’s tweet on August 21, stating that the final year examinations will commence from the third week of September irrespective of different disciplines and courses.

“(However), we request your facilitation specifically for exams to ensure equal digital access by guaranteeing better WiFi facilities or some form of connectivity at Block Level, Sub district and district levels such that students who face difficulties for exams can be assured of equality for the exams in such distinctive centres,” Lyngdoh said.

He also suggested the government make a proper arrangement at the Common Services Centres (CSC) for the students to get access to the internet when the exam is held.

“This will enable us to prepare for the exams due to lack of books and access to the library, especially in the rural areas otherwise the plan for online examination will fail drastically and will end up in chaos resulting in a great loss for the students academically with added mental stress,” he added.

Lyngdoh said this decision for an online exam would seem highly impractical and discriminatory in nature as the exercise will leave a section of the students with unequal access to books and resources, offline as well as online, thereby imposing upon them a major challenge.

He also termed the decision to hold the examination as impractical in nature in view of the current scenario in the state specifically with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic where cases are on the rise and the state is on the verge of community transmission of the disease.

The NEHUSU president further pointed out that it is no secret that many Durbar Shnongs have imposed a direction to their residents to undergo a quarantine period of 14 days on returning from Shillong in order to stave off the spread of the virus in their respective villages.