COVID-19: Attendance at 50%, online classes, exams not possible, says DUTA

NEW DELHI: The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) has expressed dismay at indications from the university that it intends to conduct classes and examinations online.

The association is concerned about an email sent by the assistant registrar, colleges, on April 20, asking the colleges to provide "list of courses for which online classes are being held with the help of Google Classroom, Google Hangouts, Google Meet or Zoom". Delhi University suspended regular classes on March 12 , over a week before a countrywide lockdown was enforced on March 25 to control the spread of COVID-19.

In the letter to the Vice-Chancellor of University of Delhi (DU), the teacher’s association contends that the letter does not specify the purpose for which this information is being sought, that too at such short notice. The teachers have alleged that the university has made no attempt to understand how students are struggling to access the online classes, the efforts teachers are making and that, even in the “best-case scenario” attendance for online classes is 50 percent.

They have demanded that the letter be withdrawn.

‘Extreme shortsightedness’

The association believes that the format sent out to colleges reveals the “extreme shortsightedness” with which online teaching is being managed.

They say that the university has made no attempt to find out how students and teachers are coping with the measures taken by the government and the university.

The educational institutions across the country were closed in line with directions issued by the union ministry of human resources and development (MHRD). The ministry had instructed the universities to resume the academic classes online, following which the teachers were asked to make preparations to conduct the classes online.

The university, in a string of office orders, had urged the teachers to remain in touch with students through e-resources. “Teachers have been providing material through WhatsApp and emails,” says DUTA.

Further DUTA says that teachers have been proactive in exploring other ways of connecting with the students even though the university has not provided any infrastructure and system to facilitate the same.

The teacher’s association expresses dismay at the format which seeks information “on only one of the many ways in which teachers have worked through the period of lockdown.”

“The format expects teachers to answer questions in a manner that would reveal very little about the preparedness for exams or issues which they are facing,” Rajib Ray, president and Rajinder Singh, secretary, DUTA says in their letter.

50 percent attendance

The teacher’s association says that the authorities have not assessed the ground realities nor prepared for online exams. It pointed out that students face “innumerable problems” that the students face in accessing online classes because of lack of internet services and laptops and smartphones.

Plus, the nationwide lockdown was imposed suddenly and many students who had left for their homes during the mid-semester break had not carried their notes and reading material with them.

The teacher’s body says that even in best case scenarios where students are able to take the online classes, the attendance is less than 50 percent.

“To ask colleges to submit details of online classes on the format circulated is not only grossly misplaced but also indicates the complete lack of concern on the part of the authorities towards the well-being of students and teachers,” says DUTA.

Also read:

• Online teaching: DU teachers say being harassed for info
• Coronavirus: Delhi University goes online as all colleges close

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