Nagaland: For Final Year Students, Pandemic Deprives ‘memorable’ Send-off - Eastern Mirror
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Nagaland: For final year students, pandemic deprives ‘memorable’ send-off

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By Our Correspondent Updated: Oct 09, 2020 11:06 pm
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Students of St. Joseph’s College (autonomous), Jakhama.

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 9 (EMN):
The final year in college is considered to be the most memorable academic year, and a turning point in a student’s life. But owing to the unprecedented Covid-19 induced nationwide lockdown, educational institutions had to be closed for several months this year, and final year students have been denied the farewell they deserve.

Some colleges in the state have recently started conducting exams. While many final year students will be appearing for their exams, many have already completed their examinations online.

Slowly, some educational institutions have started functioning. However, for many graduating students, they had to bid farewell to their college from their homes, without stepping into their classrooms after seven months of lockdown.

Interacting with Eastern Mirror, a few final year students from St. Joseph’s College (autonomous), Jakhama in Kohima expressed sadness at how they have been robbed of the opportunity to make memories with their classmates.

A message reminding students to celebrate the final year and give their best for the last paper was on the WhatsApp status of everyone the night before the final paper, said Nokhovinu, a final year Sociology student from the college.

“We never expected that our college life will end with these feelings of incompleteness because of this pandemic,” said the student who appeared for her 6th semester last paper on October 5.

“Just before we began our exams, we had to close our college as announced by the government due to Covid-19, which is so incomplete (sic) for all the final year students,” said Zakukuonu Zao, another BA final semester student.

“As final year students, we had so many plans with our classmates and friends, but we couldn’t have a proper gathering and bid farewell to our classmates and say our last goodbye (sic),” she shared.

“We couldn’t even thank our lecturers for their help and support but had to leave the college like that though we were able to give our exam online,” she added.

“It is very unfortunate that the graduating batch of 2020 parted without proper goodbyes,” said Dr. Khriemenuo Pusa, assistant professor from the Economics department of the college.

“Also being exposed to the first-ever virtual exams and classes has honed the technical skills of both the students and teachers, which is creating history in the Nagaland educational system,” she said.

However, the professor believed that this dishevelled academic year would create an indelible memory among the student community. She further extended her best wishes to the final year students.

Kekhriesito Rhütso, a final year Economics student from the same college, also expressed his sadness over not being able to meet his friends, lecturers, and ending his college life in such an unprecedented situation.

“It was very sad to imagine seven months without seeing each other,” he added.

Gwatilo Domeh, another final year student, shared that it was on March 16, that they were planning to have ‘lots of memorable times’ with two more weeks of college before their end-term examination.

“So much excitement for the last department activities like Commerce Day, farewell party, taking a signature on our shirt from our classmates, juniors and friends— which remained unattended due to the sudden pandemic lockdown,” he said.

“Though our activities were incomplete as final year students, our first priority was our books and our exam,” Domeh shared while adding, “So much anxiety on us about our exam with rumours and fake routine. But finally we had appeared our exam online though it was not the way we expected.”

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By Our Correspondent Updated: Oct 09, 2020 11:06:49 pm
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