Students at WIT have expressed concern that they have to return to the college to re-sit their exams in ten days time.
From August 17th, anyone who needs to repeat Christmas Semester 1 exams will have to do so on site.
In a statement to WLR, the college say there will be a maximum of 42 students in any one exam centre, with two sittings taking place per day across two venues from August 17th until the 28th.
They say the repeat exams on campus will take place in an environment compliant with national health and safety guidelines and strict 2 metre social distancing.
WIT say sitting in an exam hall mirrors the exam structure originally sat in Semester 1.
However WIT student Kate, who has to repeat an exam, is calling on the college to allow her to do the exam online.
She says that while social distancing can be ensured in the exam hall, there are other concerning factors for students returning to the college.
Kate told WLR many students will have to use public transport from other parts of the country to travel to Waterford, as well as staying in overnight accomodation.
"I am one of many students who are due to sit repeat exams this month on campus this month. A large majority of us students are uncomfortable congregating in exam halls due to COVID especially as the cases have been gradually increasing. It is our wish to do the exams at home (which is what most colleges/universities throughout Ireland are doing for their repeats). A lot of students have been attempting to correspond with the WIT exam board, student officers etc about our concerns however we are only receiving generic automated responses and we feel us as students do not have a voice given that coronavirus is still very large. WIT claims they are doing this to be fair however back when we did our original examinations there was no pandemic trying to force us on campus to do these exams is unacceptable and is unfair."
Another student, Olivia said: I live in Wicklow and the college around me UCD,Trinity,DCU all keep there students up to date and aware with everything that is going on due to covid and they have there repeat exams online and there next semester exams online. Whereas WIT want students to travel down to waterford next week to do repeat exams in rooms and wear masks etc. They have said it's an unfair academic disadvantage if the exams are online. I just think it is outrageous to force students to travel down. I have 2 repeats and I will be travelling down by using public transport which I am very anxious about, a dart to town then a bus to waterford and then a hotel for 3 days and I think it's such an unfair situation to put a student in during this pandemic. I have voiced my concerns and I have received a generic email from the student union and others. It is not the same as semester 1 as there is still a pandemic.. I have not left my town let alone county since march and I am so nervous to be on transport and in a hotel and in a room with people that I do not know where they have been if they've been to red list countries etc.. I would suggest that WIT look at the likes of trinity and UCD and reconsider there decision of having students travel down at this time and reconsider the online exams. They say they have students health as a priority but I am unsure
In a detailed statement to WLR, Waterford Institute of Technology outlined the following:
"As per email sent to students, will repeats of Semester 1 still take place on campus after due consideration to student's concerns.The welfare of our students and staff is always our priority and we acknowledge that this is a stressful time for students. We would like to reassure students repeat exams on campus will take place in an environment compliant with national health and safety guidelines. To achieve this, the number of exam sessions has been increased, and exams are taking an extra week to enable us to have small numbers in each exam hall.
Each examination centre is limited to circa 40 students and there will be a number of exam centres across two of our campuses.We are scheduling small numbers in each exam setting with stringent 2m social distancing between candidates and reinforcing national guidelines on respiratory and hand hygiene.All national health protocols will be followed and students should check their student email for a communication on the overarching principles for the safe conduct of examinations. Closer to the exams further instructions may be issued in line with public health guidelines.
Exams take place from 17-28 August, with two sessions per day, at 9.15am and 2.15pm respectively with a m ax 35-42 in any one exam centre, depending on the venue. The decision was made to give students facing repeat exams the best opportunity to pass the module by mirroring the exam structure they originally sat in Semester 1 and providing them with the same examination as they prepared for in their semester 1 study. Similarly, the semester 2 repeat examinations follow the same structure as the student prepared for in semester 2.
Students are being advised not to attend on campus if they have any symptoms of coronavirus and they should engage with their GP in such cases in line with national guidelines. Candidates who cannot sit the examinations may put in a mitigating circumstances form and these will be considered in September by the Academic Council."
