Night exams for students
By Kylie Moon
HOBART — Students at the University of Tasmania have been avidly collecting signatures on a petition against a proposal to shorten the exam period from three weeks to two, forcing students to take some exams at night.
Some full-time students have up to nine end of year exams, and while the university has guaranteed that students will have no more than two exams in any one day, it still means a much shorter period of study time.
Pressure for shortening the exam period came from international students, who want to be able to graduate the same year they finish their degree.
Sarah Stephen, Resistance candidate for SRC president, told Green Left Weekly: "This is a valid concern for international students, who often have to travel back to Australia to graduate, but this change will affect every student's chance of passing exams. The SRC president, Anthony Llewellyn, approved the change after being approached by the university, without any student consultation. A lot of students are angry that their SRC acted so undemocratically.
"By cutting operating grants, the Liberal government is putting pressure on universities to generate revenue. Resistance opposes fees for any students, including international students. We oppose universities being seen as money-making institutions where the needs of those who generate more revenue hold more weight in decision-making", said Stephen.