Um Student Union Concerned Over Physical Final Exams Amid Omicron Surge

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The Universiti Malaya Students Union (UMSU) has urged their university to conduct all final examinations online due to safety concerns over the current surge in the Omicron variant of Covid-19 cases in the country.
They noted their concern that several faculties will be holding the final examinations for this semester in person.
“UMSU urges for all final examinations to be done online.
“This is vital in guaranteeing the safety of students especially at such a critical time when there is a spike in Covid-19 cases on campus and the spread of the Omicron variant nationwide is becoming more concerning.
“This is because mass gatherings in the examination hall will expose and increase the risk of spreading Covid-19 among the UM students,” UMSU said in a statement today.
Students who have been placed under quarantine should also be given the option to proceed or postpone their examinations, the union said.
These students already have to worry about Covid-19 while under quarantine, aside from the stress over their examinations, they added.
“Besides, it was the failure of the university administration in controlling the spread of Covid-19 on campus which have caused many students to undergo quarantine… hence the university should be more sympathetic to the students,” UMSU said.
Waive tuition fee charges
The union then urged their university to waive tuition fee charges for students who are forced to quarantine for 10 days after their final examinations as well as those who had to postpone their final examinations due to exhibiting symptoms or testing positive for Covid-19 and will have to sit for the Grade 1 "special examination".
For the first category, the waiver should be offered to the students for 10 days while for the second category, the waiver should be given until the end of their Grade 1 examinations.
If the university insists on holding the examinations in person, students should be mandated to test before they enter the examination hall.
The cost of these testing should be borne by the university, UMSU said.
“UMSU objects to and criticises any decision or action which ignores the safety and well-being of the students of UM.
“We from the union urge the university to take appropriate measures to protect their students,” they said.
An online petition has also been started by a UM student, who declined to be named, in order to urge for the final examinations to be held online.
At the time of writing, the petition has slightly over 2,500 signatures.
The petition also calls for the relevant faculties to decide on this matter soon as the finals are starting on Feb 7, 2022. - Mkini

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