T'PURAM: The first-year MBBS students, in a letter, have requested the chancellor and vice-chancellor of Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) to postpone the first-year final exams scheduled to begin on February 2. This is in the wake of more students getting infected with Covid-19 and many college hostels becoming clusters.
"The data collected on January 23 sums to a total of 161 positive students across the state and five active clusters in as many colleges. More than that, many are symptomatic and are in quarantine," the letter said.
Physical and mental stress of the pandemic and its post-Covid after-effects have put the students' efficacy for the exam in a point of concern. This leaves a student in a constant dilemma of health and academics. Such rising numbers has led to a state of panic in institutions putting the preparations at risk, said a Thiruvananthapuram medical college student.
Writing exams in the PPE kit is so difficult, and more difficult when a person has breathing issues. The exam is for three hours and we have to write six papers. We are not mentally and physically ready to appear for the exam and face failure. If so, students of self-financing colleges will be the most affected financially, said another student.
Students have alleged that many students are under quarantine and are not able to prepare for the exam. In other states, they have postponed first-year exams due to the rapid spread and several universities in Kerala also have postponed their exams. Students have also approached the CM and health minister with the same request. TNN
