Shillong: The ongoing protests and hunger strike by North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) students entered its 16th day today, casting a shadow over the upcoming semester-end exams.
In a recent press briefing, Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Nirmalendu Saha hinted at a potential delay in the exams, scheduled for December. Given the two weeks of missed classes due to the protests, he expressed concerns about the feasibility of conducting the exams on time.
“It’s likely that the semester-end exams might be pushed back to February 2025, after the winter break,” Prof. Saha stated. He added that a faculty meeting will be convened within the next few days to finalize a decision.
In a bid to mitigate the impact of the protests on essential university functions, the NEHU Non-teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA) has resumed services, prioritizing the welfare of the students.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma appealed to the protesting students to end their strike, citing health concerns. He assured that the Centre has initiated a probe into the matter and that Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has taken up the issue with the central government.