Shafqat Mehmood’s statement regarding online exams
Students staged protests in Islamabad, Lahore, and Peshawar. Students demanded online exams. They are also urging the government to provide a discount on tuition fees.
The federal minister tweeted that the decision regarding online exams lies with the universities.
Shafqat Mehmood’s Tweets
Statements of Shafqat Mehmood are:
Some university students are demanding that their exams should be online as they have been studying online. This is a decision for the universities to make but I have asked HEC to consult VCs and see if it is possible given special circumstances this year. 1/2
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) January 25, 2021
2/2 Universities should also asses whether they have the technical ability to conduct exam for ALL students. No one can be left behind. It is also necessary to ensure that online exam system is not misused to get easy grades. Preparing good question papers/ assessment is imp
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) January 25, 2021
The minister shared the concerns about the absence of a mechanism required for holding online exams.
Former HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said “exams cannot be held online” adding that; this is the “prerogative of the concerned authority or the teacher to decide how it wants to take the exam.”
“There are multiple assessment methods including online, but the demand by the students that exams be taken according to their wishes is not justified and it sends a wrong message to the world,” he said.
“It shows a lack of confidence between students and teachers.”
Responding to a question, the educationist said that this [online] new mode of education has “exposed teachers as well because many of them could not deliver according to the requirement.”
“Online teaching included lecture delivery, students’ participation in the class, and content development for maximum understanding. There’s a need for training of teachers but it would take time.”
He said that teachers were still not ready for that and the authorities should have taken this seriously during the previous lockdown.”
