Cancel end-term assessments, alter existing evaluation methods: Law students write to BCI for relief amid COVID-19 crisis

Law students from across the country have addressed a representation to the Bar Council of India (BCI) seeking cancellation of end-term examinations and various other academic reliefs in the wake of the second wave of COVID-19..The students stated that a distressing number of universities and colleges have failed to respond to concerns of the student bodies."... considering the lack of testing facilities available, most students with symptoms of this virus were not able to avail academic relaxations and therefore, have had to work on their submissions while battling this pernicious virus. Faculty too, have been in the same position, and many have had to continue teaching despite experiencing severe symptoms," it is stated. .Moreover, the COVID-19 situation has had a severe impact on the mental health of the students, it is highlighted. "There is extreme anxiety and despair in the hearts of the student body owing to the bleak future that stands in front of them. Several students have been struggling to cope with the mental stress surrounding the same, particularly those students who have been quarantined in abusive or unfavourable households. Many have been enduring turmoil in their homes for over a year now, while others are stuck in the hospital fighting for dear life...numerous students have shared instances wherein they have felt completely detached from the work they have been doing so far and it has become a situation wherein people submit assignments without learning anything, which also defeats the purpose of conducting such examinations in the first place," the letter added. .The relaxations currently provided are wholly insufficient, the students have stated. As such, the students have appealed that the BCI intervene to extend the following reliefs for semesters during the pandemic period. .1. Cancellation of end-term assessmentsThe students added that the "present evaluation mechanism overlooks the mental and physical impact this pandemic has had on individuals, especially by expecting them to perform with the same productivity they did before.".A large number of students were victims of adamant administrative decisions "wherein end-term components with little to no relaxations were expected to be submitted despite providing documentary evidence of testing positive", the representation stated. .In this backdrop, the students have urged the BCI to cancel end-term assessments. "Universities and colleges that have conducted/ are in the process of conducting internal assessments should be allowed to not conduct end term assessments. Instead, they should be allowed to scale up the assessments that have already been conducted, so as to meet the total required graded component," the students stated..2. Altering existing evaluation methodsThe letter highlights that hundreds of law students have expressed dissatisfaction on social media over the reluctance of universities and colleges to amend the evaluation criteria amid the pandemic. Most administrations have resorted to suppressing the voices of their student bodies by expressing that the BCI would be vehemently against the same, the students pointed out. "In light of the same, it is our humble request that the BCI issue a directive allowing universities and colleges to amend their evaluation pattern to best suit the student interests, so as to provide the reliefs to the students so as to significantly reduce the academic pressures," the students urged the regulatory body..3. Cancel deferred end-term examsGiven the present COVID-19 situation, concern is raised that it may not be possible to conduct the exam at a later date when the pandemic would subside. Instead, it is suggested that universities may be allowed to convert the written component of internal exams to external exams. This would be beneficial to both the students, faculty and administration members."... we request that in a COVID semester, the BCI dispense with the requirement of a strict separate end term component and enable Universities to consider one written component from internal as sufficient for considering end term evaluation for students of all years equally," the letter stated. .4. Waiver of evidentiary requirements for availing academic reliefsThe students have highlighted that where students have requested for academic reliefs such as deadline extensions due to COVID-related emergencies, various evidentiary requirements are imposed upon them to avail said reliefs. Such requirements are manifestly unjust to those students who cannot access them for various reasons, the representation stated. These reasons may including delays in getting COVID-19 test results, false negatives despite tests etc. "... it is requested that the requirement of a positive RT-PCR test be waived in the case of law school students requesting for academic reliefs as well," the students have urged the BCI. .The May 25 representation has been endorsed by students from a number of law colleges including Symbiosis Law School Pune, Jindal, GNLU, Campus law centre, DU, MNLU, NUALS, NLSIU, SLS Hyderabad, NUJS, NLU Jodhpur, UPES, CMR Law School, CCS, SLS Noida, NALSAR, Nirma University, GGSIPU, Panjab University Amity University Chhattisgarh, NLIU, Mody University RMNLU, AMU Vivekanand Institute of Professional Studies (IPU), HPNLU, VIT Law School, New Law College, Bahra University, CNLU, St. Xavier’s University, Alliance University, HNLU, Presidency University, Osmania University, Gitam University, KIIT School of Law, NLUO, Jamia Milia Islamia, ICFAI University, NLU Delhi, Northrop University, Banaras Hindu University, Sastra, Bennett University, Delhi Metropolitan College, DBRANLU, NIMMS School of Law, RGNUL, Uttaranchal University, Christ University, Law College Dehradun etc.