‘Unplanned online education will be suicidal’

A group of teachers today said that introduction of online classes in an unplanned and unprepared manner at universities will be suicidal and will create further discrimination among students.

University Teachers' Network -- an association of public and private university teachers -- from an online press conference demanded a special allowance of Tk 3,000 per month for each student infected with coronavirus. They also demanded 50 percent waiver of all tuition fees at private universities.

Dhaka University teachers Samina Luthfa and Bokhtiar Ahmed jointly read out the network's position paper at the programme.

The network said that public universities can fall into different crises including increasing session jam due to closure of all universities since mid March. As crisis management, online education can be a possible way of continuation of education.

Universities were closed on March 17. The closure has since been extended till August 6. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in late April mentioned that educational institutions may remain closed till September if the Covid-19 situation does not improve.

"But introduction of online education due to pressure from authorities and unplanned, unprepared and discriminatory implementation would be suicidal for universities," the paper said.

So before introduction of online classes, problems of students should be taken into consideration, it added.

No institution has any moral right to continue education through which it can create discrimination. Online classes will certainly widen discrimination, as all students do not have access to internet, smart devices and others infrastructure, the teachers' network said.

Teachers said that they were concerned that many universities are trying to introduce online education while being unprepared, as University Grants Commission has asked them to do so.

"We are sceptical that online education will be introduced hurriedly just to show off and to demonstrate political obedience towards those running the university administration," the paper said.

UGC from a meeting with vice chancellors of public universities on June 25, urged the universities to ensure online education for the third time to avoid possible session jams due to Covid-19 shutdown.

Most public universities are yet to offer students online education, said a UGC member. Officials gave reasons including lack of facilities at institutions and uneven internet access for all students as reasons. In response, almost all the vice-chancellors agreed with the decision. They also sought a special internet package for students so that they can join the online classes smoothly.

The teachers' network, from yesterday's press conference, also sought one-time scholarship or long term and interest free loan of Tk 20,000 for at least half of the students of public universities.

Department will select the students and all steps should be taken to avoid any kind of irregularities in providing scholarship to students.