Holding online examinations or assessment in order to complete different semesters at private universities has become a complete mess as there are several jeopardies in the processincluding unfair means.
Thus, experts have raised question over the process of online examinations at different private universities where meritorious students may be deprived of quality education.
They also said that the quality of higher education will deteriorate further if the evaluation method of examinations is not appropriate.
All the educational institutions of the country have been closed since March 17 due to the Covid-19. The closure has been extended till October 31.
The government has introduced online education, Television and Radio education during Covid-19 pandemic to minimize the losses of the students.
It has been alleged that no steps have been taken to stop unfair means in theexaminations of private universities.
MahbubHasan, a Dhaka University student, told this correspondent that one of his acquainted private university student sent a copy of questions through e-mail and asked to solve it immediately.
While going to solve that questions, he found that it was the ongoing semester final examination question paper of his (that student’s) university.
“I denied to solve those question as it was totally unfair,” Mahbub said, adding, “However, there is huge opportunity to solve most of the questions with the help of Google.”
“Teachers prepare questionnaire for the examination from Google and the answers can also be found in Google,” a private university student said.
“Students just copy the answers and submit it in these online examinations. Therefore, meritorious students are lagging behind due to such forgery,” he added.
Not only using Google or solving answers with the help of others, there are many opportunity of unfair means in these online examinations of the private universities.
MdAmirul Islam Sheikh, Former Deputy Director of UGC’s Private University Division told Bangladesh Post, “Online classes are just a way to keep the students busy in their study. But, there is no way of assessment or evaluation through online examinations. Many students are taking part in the online examinations by opening their books.”
“The quality of tertiary education will deteriorate if the evaluation or assessment method of examinations is not appropriate. Our meritorious students will be deprived due to this faulty method of examination system.” he added.
Moreover, most of the private universities are conducting online class activities after completing one semester’s examination.
However, questions have been raised about the quality of the students who took part in this test. Particularly, the guardians have raised questions about the laboratory or practical tests of science background students.
In this situation, the University Grants Commission (UGC) is thinking of reconsidering the issue of allowing online examinations.
In this regard, the UGC Chairman Prof KaziShahidullah said, “None of us can say when the Covid-19 situation will end. Even I did not want it in the beginning but we had to go for online education later. Public universities are conducting class activities. And private universities are evaluating class activities as well.”
He also said, “We are not in favor of allowing online examinations. Because, in the system, we are not sure how much it is possible to prevent students from using deception in online exams. We will reconsider the permission of issuing online assessment.”
