‘Unlike India, in Ukraine, there are no separate marks for the practical test and they are combined with theory marks. So we are not concerned about losing marks from practical exams, but in-person learning is being affected,’ says Suraj, a medical student
Representative image. Pic/ istock
While a few medical universities in Ukraine started online classes this week, students are worried about missing out on clinical practice and clueless about when they will receive graduate degrees from their respective universities.
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Similar to the Indian medical students who were studying in China had to continue online learning after returning due to the pandemic, the Ukraine students too are continuing their education virtually.
While few Ukrainian universities have started online lectures from March 14 for local as well as international students, there has been no clarification from the universities on how the degrees will be awarded without any practical experience.
According to the medical students, even if degrees are awarded on basis of online classes, getting a medical licence will depend on the one year of internship in India after clearing National Exit Test (NExT) exam to practice medicine.
Surat-based Vishad Patel, 22, a fifth-year medical student, who studies at Sumy University and returned on March 12 after he was evacuated from Ukrainian city, says, “Only the fifth and sixth-year students are allowed clinical learning in Ukraine. In the first three years, most of the practical learning happens in labs. While the university has assured to provide degree to all graduating students, the students who are in their final year are worried about how they are going to use this degree which is only based on non-clinical learning.”
He adds, “A few students are thinking of transferring their admission to other European medical colleges/universities. If the virtual learning system continues, we will only be able to learn during our one year of medical internship.”
The Sumy state medical university has officially declared to not take lectures before March 31.
“In the middle of the war, the Sumy University is thinking of reopening the university after March 31. We have been informed through a formal letter and message that there is a ‘vacation’ till March 31. Further details about the online classes will be conveyed later,” says Patel.
Mumbai-based Suraj Pal, 22, a first-year student, shifted to Ternoplis city in Ukraine in January this year to complete his graduation, but he had to return to India on March 2 after Russia’s invasion.
“Every day after lectures, we had practical sessions depending upon the subjects of the day. In the field of medicine, learning from clinical practice is most important but due to the Ukraine-Russia war, we are missing out on an integral part of our education. Unlike India, in Ukraine, there are no separate marks for the practical test and they are combined with theory marks so we are not concerned about losing marks from practical exams, but in-person learning is being affected. The university is yet to clarify how the degrees will be awarded after completing the final year,” says Pal, who had to travel for around 8 hours by road to reach the Romanian border.
Speaking about the lectures conducted, he adds, “The university is open only for the lecturers who stay nearby and do not have the facility to conduct classes from home. While most of the teachers are taking classes from their residences, some, are taking online lectures from the university classrooms.”
A third-year medical student from Ternopil National Medical University Dhurvi Ghori, 23, a resident of Surat, says, “The university started online classes from Monday (March 14). While there have been no changes in the schedule of lectures, we will miss out on practical learning. Due to the war, currently, we are only dependent on theoretical knowledge.” She returned to India on March 2 after crossing the Poland border from Ternopil.
Recently, a petition was filed before the Delhi High Court seeking direction from the Central government for admission and continuation of studies within India by Indian medical students who were evacuated from Ukraine.
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