Exam Boycott: Polytechnic students hold protests against Technical Board and boycotted exams

Scores of students of Polytechnic engineering on Monday morning staged massive protests against the Board of Technical Education (BOTE) for holding examinations of 6th semester students.
Interestingly, BOTE had issued official dates for 6th semester exams two weeks ago on its website and asked the students to appear in the exams, beginning October 17. However, the students had opposed the department move saying they were not prepared for the exams in view of prevailing unrest in Kashmir.
“We don’t have transport facilities and going out for exams in the unrest raises security issues and there is no safety of students in the prevailing situation,” a group of students told Kashmir Post.
Despite the opposition by students, the department decided to go ahead with its decision resulting in massive protests by students. The students from different districts reached their examination centre in Women’s Polytechnic college Bemina today, but boycotted the exams.
“It is totally illogical to conduct exams in the prevailing situation. We are not prepared for exams. Students can’t reach their exam centres in absence of transport facilities. We urge the government to postpone the exams,” the protesting students demanded. They said students have reached from Baramulla, Pulwama and other districts without any preparation for the exams.
“I am from Hazratbal area and had to leave at 6:30 am to reach Bemina. You could very well understand the situation of students from other districts. We are all in distress,” said Sajad Ahmad, one of the protesting students.
The students blocked the Bemina Byepass to press for their demands.
“Exam was scheduled at 9 am and out of 300 students only 150 reached here in frustrated conditions. They are forcing us to appear in exams,” the students said.
“Students who had to come from Pulwama faced protests and their vehicles were smashed as well. They are already scared and frustrated. But our department is adamant to go ahead with exams,” the students said.
The protests were going on at the time of filing of this report.