UP Police foil AKTU students’ plan to protest against offline exams

Around 40 students from Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Lucknow and Kanpur reached Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) office to put forth their demand for online exams, but they were stopped by the police from staging a protest. 

Around 40 students studying in various colleges affiliated to AKTU today reached the university office to protest against the offline exams in view of the increasing threat of Omicron virus only to return disappointed. The AKTU odd semester exams are scheduled to begin from December 28. 

While tallking to Shiksha, a third-year student studying in Kanpur Institute of Technology (KIT) requesting anonymity said, “Around 40 students from Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Lucknow and Kanpur reached the AKTU office at 11 am to put forth their demand for online exams, but they were stopped by the police from staging a protest. Ten of us were also detained by the police.” 

‘Syllabus incomplete, how can we take exams’ 

Another student said, “The pandemic has completely disturbed our studies. Our semester started in September due to which our syllabus could not be completed. Now, the university has released date sheet and asking us to appear for offline exams. How can the university officials expect us to appear for offline exams when the syllabus is still incomplete? Besides, no practicals have been held.” 

Asked whether the students had approached the Vice-Chancellor or Chancellor to raise their demands, the students said they had already written to the authorities, but yet to receive a reply. 

The protesting students have also started a virtual campaign on Twitter with the hashtag ‘#aktuOnlineExam’. Students are demanding the university to either postpone exams or conduct them in online mode in view of the Omicron variant of Coronavirus surfacing in various states of the country. 

53,226 students awarded degrees at AKTU 19th convocation 

AKTU held its 19th convocation on Thursday under the Chairmanship of Uttar Pradesh Governor, Anandiben Patel. As many as 53,226 students were awarded degrees on the occasion. 

Padma Shri Prof SG Dhande was the chief guest and was conferred upon an honorary degree of DSC. Along with this, gold, silver and bronze medals were given to 92 meritorious students. 

Also, the university has for the first time awarded medals in postgraduate courses. The 92 medals included one Chancellor’s Gold Medal, one Kamal Rani Memorial Medal, 16 gold, 17 silver, 18 bronze in undergraduate courses; two gold, two silver and two bronze medals in masters courses. Besides, there were 12 gold, seven silver and seven bronze in government institutes and five gold, one silver and one bronze in masters courses. 

A total of 91 scholars were awarded PhD degrees. Also, a DSC degree was awarded to Dr Saurabh Gupta, joint secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 

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