Morang, Apr. 26: After the government imposed a nationwide lockdown since March 24, educational institutions have been one of the sectors completely closed, and with growing positive cases of COVID-19, it is uncertain when they can resume.

With lack of certainty and passage of time, some educational institutions have begun online classes to continue their courses and complete them in time. Later, different bodies of Tribhuvan University started requesting educational institutions to commence online classes. On April 20, Tribhuvan University’s Rector Office issued a notice thanking institutions who were conducting online classes and requested others to follow suit. Similarly, the Registrar’s Office also issued a notice on April 24 and requested institutions to conduct online classes other than practical courses following the decision of the Executive Council of Tribhuvan University.

As per the Executive Council’s decision on April 22, the Office of the Academic Council of Tribhuvan University decided to recognize online classes as formal ones.

In its letter dispatched to different agencies of Tribhuvan University, the Academic Council cited that online classes would be effective and not hamper the academic calendar. But despite the directives and requests, many institutions and students have been facing difficulties to conduct and join online classes respectively.

Since April 16, online classes of Poetry for first semester of Masters in English had begun for students of Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus situated in Kathmandu. However, with more than a 100 students enrolled in the first semester only around 50 students have been attending the classes since many lack internet connection in their respective residences.“Some friends returned to their home outside the Valley after the government closed educational institutions. We began online classes but not everyone has been able to join the class due to lack of access to internet in their area,” said Shruti Pandit, a first semester student in Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus.

Nevertheless, it is not only the students facing problem in joining the online classes.

According to institutions operating in the Far-west, they and the students both lack infrastructure to conduct and join online classes. “From problems in internet to electricity, there is everything here. The university has directed to conduct online classes but with no infrastructure, we are incapable and so are the students,” said Dipendra Bahadur Pal, assistant-professor at Dadeldhura Multiple Campus in Sudurpashchim State.As per Pal, they might have to wait for the lockdown to be lifted in order to resume their classes.

Meanwhile, Tribhuvan University has said they were doing homework and taking necessary steps to ensure every institution and student has an access to online education at the earliest.

“Teachers are being trained and we are coordinating with institutions to provide them necessary infrastructure to conduct online classes,” said Prof Dr Dharma Kanta Baskota, vice-chancellor of Tribhuvan University.

Regarding students’ problems to join online classes due to lack of internet or not being able to afford data packs on a daily basis, Tribhuvan University has hinted at finding a way out to mitigate this problem as well.

“We are holding talks with telecommunication companies. We are planning to provide data packs to students who have no access to WiFi and cannot afford data packs every day,” said Baskota, who added, “We are trying not to leave any of the students out of the online classes.”

While Tribhuvan University has decided to conduct online classes, other universities are also holding talks with concerned authorities to come to a decision. “Far-western University is conducting meetings with institutions but has not decided whether to begin online classes or not. Even though a decision comes to begin online classes, not every institution and student has an access to required infrastructure here other than in the district headquarters,” said Dhana Dhami, assistant-professor at Darchula Multiple Campus.

source: risingnepal, 26 April 2020
 

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