After having online classes mode for all university courses! Final examinations are going to be face to face for this semester.

 

On April 15, 2022, International Islamic University Malaysia IIUM announced a circular stating that the final exams for sem 2,2021/2022 will be conducted in person (face to face). This decision was shocking to everyone, whether teachers or students, especially since we are in the middle of the semester now. 

 

We understand very well that the university is trying its best to return to university life as it was before the epidemic Covid-19, and the university has the full right to impose and set decisions that are commensurate with its policy. However, the impact of this decision is completely unfair for several reasons. 

 

First: It was stated in the university’s guidelines statement at the beginning of this semester that the classes will be in a hybrid mode. However, most kulliyyahs have held it in online mode, or asked students to attend for only one or two weeks during the whole semester. This did not qualify the students sufficiently for the physical final exams. 

 

Second, it's the first semester students returning back after the pandemic situation. So, it would have been appropriate from the university to be more flexible in adapting students to the atmosphere of study again and prepare them psychologically, rather than making them socked with face to face finals because students were absent for almost two years from university seats, which undoubtedly negatively affected their academic achievements.  

 

Third, Kulliyyah allowed some students to take their final exams online, after submitting an appeal letter explaining their circumstances. This is what we consider unequal to other students because there are many students who are still outside Malaysia due to financial conditions, epidemic restructures or visa issues. It is unfair that all of them will be examined online while the rest have to attend.

 

Fourth, the university campus witnessed many cases of Covied-19, whether among the staff or the students themselves because during this semester many lecturers were sick and unable to make classes. The epidemic is still present, and the university must be more careful, especially during the final exams period. If a student is infected and tested positive, this will affect his other exams and thus his future. As well as, the rest direct contact students will be at high risk of infection.

 

We hope and sincerely request the university to look into this matter. We are aware of our beloved university's ability to make wise decisions. 

 

Wassalamualaikum,