LAHORE: A clash erupted between law enforcement agencies and the students of the University of Central Punjab demanding to hold online examinations.
The protesting students broke the door of the university and broke into the campus on Khayaban-e-Jinnah and pelted stones on security forces outside the university.
The students raised slogans against the university administration as many staff members were trapped inside. At least five students have been arrested and police resorted to baton-charge to disperse the protesting students.
In Faisalabad, five students were injured in protests outside the NFC University while a security guard also suffered injuries. A group of over 200 students had gathered outside the university in district Jaranwala protesting against on-campus exams.
The protest turned violent as students pelted stones at the university’s gate and tried to break in. The police baton-charged the protesters and arrested five students.
The students vowed to come on the streets again and said they will not back out unless their demands are met. Another protest is underway outside the National Textile University located near Sheikhupura Road in the city. The students have blocked the Green Belt for traffic and staged a sit-in.
The students are demanding to hold examinations online rather than physically due to the risk of the coronavirus pandemic. Similar protests are being held in Faisalabad and other cities of Punjab.
Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mehmood addressed students’ concerns regarding online examinations and said that the decision lies with universities.
“Some university students are demanding that their exams should be online as they have been studying online,” the minister wrote on Twitter. “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.”
The minister added that universities “should also assess whether they have the technical ability to conduct online exam for all students, stressing that no student should be left behind.
He said it also necessary to ensure that the online exam system is not misused to get easy grades and preparing good question papers and assessments are important
Students from all over Pakistan took to Twitter to call on their educational institutions to hold online exams just like they held online classes. The main concern is the increasing number of coronavirus cases as the country faces the second wave of infections.
