Nalsar Hyderabad and NUJS Kolkata have opted not to hold online exams this semester in light of potential difficulties faced by students, in contrast to NLSIU Bangalore, which has opted for students to sit their final exams entirely online in six- to eight-hour exams spread out over a longer time period.
According to The Telegraph, all NUJS students would be granted provisional promotions, giving 50% weightage to students’ previous examination performance with the remainder being awarded on other work completed this semester, though earlier online exams had been conducted in April.
Nalsar too has gone down a similar path, despite the academic council (AC) having initially approved online exams; however, some students had then raised concerns, according to Nalsar vice-chancellor (VC) Prof Faizan Mustafa.
The Bar Council of India (BCI), meanwhile, as first shared by an anonymous reader in on Legally India Topical, has told VCs in a circular dated 27 May 2020 that online exams would only be fine for final-year students, while intermediate year students should be be advanced on the basis of previous years’ performance (excerpt below).
Nalsar rationales
Mustafa explained that for the 16 May AC, “for the first time in Nalsar history I invited three student reps to attend AC meeting” and that finally the AC had decided to “scale up marks rather than have online exam”, because they “did not want students to have any mental stress of online exam” and “did not want elite to have an advantage over less privileged”, particularly over internet access issues.
Update 10 June 2020: It is understood from several sources, that Nalsar has implemented a so-called “no detriment” policy, which means that “for the end semester component of each subject, the higher of either the sum of midsem and project scores, or a score derived from the student’s CGPA, will be taken”.
Furthermore, Nalsar had removed the deadline on internal project submissions so that results would now be declared on a rolling basis, he said. “If scaling up adversely affects CGPA we will take CGPA of earlier semester so that students are not at a disadvantage.”
“Thus our session is on track,” added Mustafa. “Since no resit exams are there we are starting our new session on July 1.”
“We completed all our teaching as per time table and posted pen drives though no examination was going to be held,” he noted, adding that he “does not see examination as the ultimate goal of education” and that .
Prof Amita Dhanda, Nalsar’s dean academic affairs, explained that the decision was made based on a “combination of accessibility, stress and concerns from both students and teachers about holding unproctored exams which caused us to follow this method for mandatory and some elective courses” (though not to seminars and visiting courses).
She added: “We have been trying to worry about what are the dictates of fairness when faced with an act of God.”
“How to help our young students cope with uncertainty” and worrying about “how to make learning effective” during this crisis, had been the priorities during the crisis, she said. While agreeing that tough choices had to be made, she added: “We prefer tough choices which lean towards kindness.”
The numbers around access
We have asked Dhanda for some further statistics on how many students were potentially facing issues of access in the case of online exams.
“The answer to the question would depend upon how you define access,” she said. “The people who have no or very limited access is about 50% in the post-graduate students. In the undergraduate students with no access whatsoever may be 60 odd students.
“But the numbers climb hugely that is more than half when you speak about effective access. Here questions of stability of connections and cost of the service come into play. NALSAR has provided for reimbursement of upgraded connections and to that extent attempted to help.”
But access is not just about internet, according to the Nalsar academic council dean.
“I would also in the context of access want us to address questions of restricted physical spaces in many homes; questions of domestic discord and mental distress. And the emotional disconnect that online learning seems to bring,” she said.
“We are trying to address these at NALSAR in active conversations between students, faculty and administration for the coming semester. The evaluation process for this semester was devised in the same manner.
“For us flexibility and the need to listen to each other is key. It is important for us to continually acknowledge that the situation far from being perfect is quite horrible for many. It is important for us to remember this at all times so that our functioning promotes solidarity and kindness.
“Any university but especially a law school needs to think so that rules are not followed for their own sake but are tweaked where necessary to achieve the purpose for which they were made.”
Photo by Ryan McGilchrist
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Effectively, this semester has been made pointless for NALSAR and NUJS. Whether any learning has taken place must be presumed, rather than verified. A real slippery slope, and dereliction of responsibility. What next? Abolish grading as a concept? On the other hand, Sudhir has ensured that not only aren't days lost, but effective evaluation of learning outcomes can take place. In the job/education market, the current Law School batches will be half a year ahead of their peers in NALSAR and NUJS.
This post was about the good work of NALSAR and NUJS, don't PR your self here too. We have had enough of your toxicity in the NLS post.
Moreover, just because you think people aren't as underprivileged as you think they are, don't make access any less of an issue. Students who haven't been able to even pay the 50,000 fee to clat for reserving their spot in universities have made it to the top NLUs with a lot of financial aid. I heard that NALSAR even set aside money to buy laptops for some of their students because not everyone fits into this ideal vision you seem to have. In India, most people don't even have access to a stable internet connection. I live in a posh-area of a Tier-1 city and am from a well-off family, but even I have not had consistent WiFi for a better part of the past month. The situation is much worse in Tier-2 cities. Rather than mouthing off, it seems you would benefit from being more aware of the present situation and not assuming everyone lives the life you are used to.
Nobody is pretending to be underprivileged. Quite frankly, it's a simple argument that's being made: not "even one student" should be left behind. But anyway, you wouldn't know this India if you treat government's statements as the absolute truth.
There are multiple students which study on scholarships, whether provided by the institution itself or other external organisations. I have batchmates who come from villages who don't have computers/laptops, and managed to get one with a broken screen from a senior when they came to college. I have friends who didn't type on computers till they had to start making projects. I have friends who have 2 rooms among 4 siblings with no concept of privacy. I have friends who are only 2 people in the household - have to help with everyday tasks. I have friends whose parents are lawyers and judges - and can help in solving the question paper.
The realities of diversity will shock you my friend. Hiding under the garb of lack of privilege is wrong I agree, but is it actually happening here? No.
Are we saying that everyone doesn't have access? No. The point we're making is that access is varied, and that makes for an unequal playing field. Do we not play in that case altogether? The game has been taught (online classes and pen drive dispatch), it just hasn't been tested.
As Prof Dhanda mentioned, the ultimate goal was to impart learning (as opposed to what seems to be our competitors goal - to test learning).
And personally, my privilege allows me to stay at home when a virus is at large outside - the thought of going to a friends house sounds incredibly scary.
In a libertarian model where decisions are up to the individual, I believe not forcing them to write exams makes a lot of sense and it is ultimately up to the individual with what learning they're taking from this semester. What you call populism, we call fairness and choice.
It's time to unlearn and stop the brainwashing, obsession, and romanticism of "exams" and time to adopt real learning and perspective gathering rather than testing on paper through a question paper whether someone has "learnt" what was taught.
(Before any ad hominem attacks - I'm decently placed academically, not the backbencher lazy student :) )
NLU- Delhi is better as it gives 48 hours to send the answers. Probably, NUSRL, Ranchi also directs to submit within 72 days. NLS, B'luru has time limit of 8 hours. NLUs, e.g. NALSAR, GNLU, Gandhinagar which had already conducted mid-term exams. are better placed to shun any examination as, at least, one examination was held in 'this' semester.
Many students do not have computers at their homes, why they should not be allowed to write answers by hand and then, get it scanned and mail back to the college.
On a more serious note, such information has to be communicated to LI by an authentic source, preferably the law school administration itself. It's probably why the other NLUs aren't getting much mention, because their administration/student bodies are sending information to LI to get it published.
NLS (and Nalsar and NUJS - the usual tag-alongs) have all been on some publicity blitzkrieg for the past few months, giving us minute-to-minute details on how they're wonderfully coping with the pandemic (even though the publication of such information is largely useless for both insiders and outsiders). It doesn't affect anyone outside and those insiders (i.e. law school students) who have been affected, can't do anything about it anyway.
Sounds about right. Atleast to the level a Sudhir-bhakt's logic works.
Surely you can connect the dots.
Grow up. Please.
www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/04/08/law-schools-and-coronavirus-bar-exemptions-and-more
Kindly introspect. NLS' constant virtue-signalling in the name of 'seriousness in academics' belies a serious problem. Of toxicity. Introspection on your end wouldn't be uncalled for; rethink.
www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/coronavirus-outbreak-iit-students-chant-jai-corona-as-college-shuts-amid-virus-scare-2195024
This is the reality of those crying "access" .
You sir are an idiot who write long before he can start thinking. Acha hua aap NLS uss time mein gaye jab exam 5000 lok hi likhte the. I doubt you would have cleared CLAT today.
So if anyone tells you that we are not real NLS student, he is lying.
If anyone tells you that Sudhir cares, he is lying.
We are resorting to this, because it has become intolerable. We have tried our best to reach him but he is busy giving interviews to media houses explaining Facebook Oversight Board. He is the worst.
We should have realised this when he invited our SBA leaders last year to an Idly party at MG Road and asked them to protest. Kian sir, I know you are going to be apprehensive of publishing this. Try contacting either Sudhir or [...] and get them to deny this officially on record. Yes, the NLS protest was a setup - [...] and we were constantly inspired into action by [...] sir.
I am coming out now because all of this is too much. I cannot tolerate what my friends are going though at this point. It is extremely insensitive. There are real issues that people are facing.
I'm telling you again, [...] and most of the time he is focussed on doing PR.
We have been constantly asking him questions over email but now he has blocked email access. Censorship at his best. We are regretting being set up to protest. I am going to put more evidence on this forum in due time. Just get ready for the expose of the Messiah. I know this wont change anything. But atleast for the people, who are supporting him and making us seem like entitled kids, this should serve as an eye opener. More from me when my exam ends tomorrow.
[Ed: Moderated and redacted for names]
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