Polytechnic students urge govt to conduct exams soon

Polytechnic students on Tuesday formed a human chain to press home their four-point demands including conducting their pending exams as soon as possible. 

Under the banner of Bangladesh Polytechnic Student Council (BPSC) and Bangladesh Technical Students Council, students from various educational institutions, including Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, took part in the programme in front of the National Press Club in the city.

Speakers at the human chain said, "As the publication of our results has been halted just for the viva voce exam, we could not apply for recruitment. Students of general education courses are considered passed automatically due to the Covid-19 situation, but no decision has been made regarding the students of technical courses so far."

So, students have gathered here demanding a solution to these problems, they added, addressing the Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni.

Anisur Rahman, a student of 8th semester at Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, said, "We got stuck for just a viva voce exam. We could have applied for jobs only if this test is held. We, 2 lakh students, are facing this problem.''

Tarannum, a student of the same institute, said, "We have been stuck for the last 10 months with only a viva voce exam left.''

The students demanded that the authority allow them to pass automatically in the theoretical parts of the 4th, and 6th semester and attach the practical parts with the next semester; reduce the syllabus of 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th semesters, take quick tests online or in person amid Covid-19 pandemic; and allocate subject-based seats to diploma students in four engineering universities, including Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology (DUET), by 2021.

President of BPSC Mehedi Hasan Limon, and many general students joined the programme.