Under Graduate course exams in Goa have been cancelled but Post graduate course exams have not.

1) A majority of students travel long distances on a daily basis by availing public transport. Nobody knows who and where these students have met because they come from all across the state and are risk of getting infected themselves and/or infecting others. 

2) Proper social distancing is not followed it the busstands or in the busses. Local busses are crowded Inspite of being told to operate at 50% capacity. 

3) Even if social distancing is followed in the exam centres, the papers used in the examination come from one place and all students will be sitting in one or two examination halls, which still doesn't follow social distancing. The students also usually gather around before and after the examinations, which kills the purpose of social distancing. 

4) It is monsoon season and coronavirus is transmitted through droplets, significantly increasing chances of getting infected. Monsoons also cause an increase in cases of cold, cough and fever, which are once again not safe especially during this pandemic. 

5) Students of FY and SY are allowed to skip an entire semester examination. They are being promoted based on internal assessments.

6) Students who have taken care and stayed at home to stay safe from coronavirus during the whole lockdown as responsible citizens will be forced to leave their homes and will be exposed to hundreds of people on a daily basis if not more just to answer a few papers.

7) Students in FY and SY of integrated courses in the state are forced to answer exams only because their course falls in the PG category and PG exams are not cancelled.

8) The argument that the students are fewer in number for PG courses and hence exams can be easily conducted is unacceptable. We are talking about risking lives here even if they may be fewer in number. 

9) There are students living in and around containment zones or affected areas.

10) Cases of coronavirus have significantly been on the rise in the last few days. 

11) Even if the government does take responsibility in case of anything happening to the student, is it worth taking the risk of losing their lives over something such as examinations?  

12) ALL students are prone to getting infected by the coronavirus. PG students are NOT immune to the virus and this should be taken into consideration.

13) Conducting exams would only give rise to the chance of spreading of the virus across the state easily and faster.

Examinations are not more important than the lives of students. It is sad to see that our education system values the marks and examinations of the students more than their lives. Inspite of such a dangerous situation that is prevailing not only in our state, but the whole world, a few selected courses are forced to conduct examinations and risk the lives of numerous students to get the exams over with. Given the corona pandemic and the fact that the virus is as dangerous to PG students lives as that of UG students, even the PG exams should be cancelled or postponed to a much further and safer date. 

Please think practically as parents and students fear for their lives and would like to ask the government and education authorities to carefully rethink their decision of conducting examinations. 

Please support this cause. It would help save a lot of trouble and would prevent spread of the virus.

Thank you.