Hold offline exams, teachers tell West Bengal education minister

The college and university teachers' association has written to education minister Bratya Basu demanding offline exams because online tests do not have invigilation and, they alleged, lack transparency.

In the letter written on Wednesday, the association accused the Trinamul Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) of putting pressure on university authorities to hold the end-semester exams online.

Last week, TMCP state president Trinankur Bhattacharya wrote to Basu demanding online exams.

The letter came days after Kalyani University and Vidyasagar University in Paschim Medinipur announced they would hold the end-semester exams online.

Vidyasagar University, which resumed offline classes from May 5 following an improvement in weather conditions, reversed its decision to hold in-person exams. 

The association alleged that the reversal was because of pressure from the students' union.

He said the association held the education department responsible for the disruptive situation across campuses because of a notice the department issued on April 27.

TMCP state president Trinankur Bhattacharya denied allegations of putting pressure on university authorities.