The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in all educational institutions shut across the country, leaving about four crore students out of their respective classes and campuses as well since March 16 last year. Since then, many students from pre-primary to university level staying at their respective homes have been attending classes, examinations and viva-voce. And everything is being done through online due to this coronavirus crisis.
The government has already made its stand clear that the country’s educational institution would be reopened shortly after completion of the students’ vaccination against Covid-19. But we do not know when all the students will get vaccinated. Therefore, the authorities of the primary and high school, college and university as per the instructions of the government and University Grants Commission took many steps to continue the academic activities through online. Thus, the education system has changed, accelerating digital transformation in the sector as there is no alternative but to continue academic activities through online.
However, many educational institutions especially some prestigious public universities failed to take either classes or examinations due to lack of smart phone or computers with internet connection of their student. But in this regard, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) has set an example as the university was determined to make the institution free from session jam. And the university continued to come up with various measures so that students would not suffer the dire consequences of session jam. It continues holding the ‘term test’ examinations through helpful approach. All course teachers of different departments of the university are completing the ‘term test’ examinations by giving assignment to the students, taking viva and holding examinations with short questions.
We must appreciate the SUST authority’s
dynamic, pragmatic and tireless
efforts to avoid session jam
Apart from the course teachers, deans of different faculties and chiefs of discipline are also overseeing the overall process to hold the term test examinations in proper and systematic way. And even, the university has already published the results of honours and masters of different department amid the shut caused by Covid-19. The teachers, students and officials of the university are playing key role now actively undertaking efforts to bring about digital transformation in this sector. Besides, the course teachers have also been given full freedom that how and in what way the examination can be taken in a proper way.
It seems that the SUST’s teachers were very cautious to hold the ‘term test’ in a systematic way. Besides, the SUST authorities also asked the course teachers to be more careful about the students those who failed to attend the online classes due to various complications including disruption of internet connection.
When contacted Professor Farid Uddin Ahmed, Vice Chancellor, SUST on Wednesday told this university correspondent the SUST is the first public university that has been conducting classes since April 4 in a bid to continue the academic activities alongside taking examinations. “We are trying to ensure cent percent presence of students in the online classes,” the SUST VC added.
“The SUST is a student friendly institution. And it has attached the highest importance on its students. The students have also been asked to communicate with their respective course teachers in order to hold the ‘term test’ in a helpful approach,” SUST VC said. Simultaneously, the university authority has also taken special programmes and measures to make up the learning losses of the students as Covid-19 pandemic has already affected their academic activities in the last 17 months.
Apart from the VC, students of different department of the university expressed their satisfaction over holding examinations through online, saying as the educational institutions remain shut the threat of session jam is certainly looming large in universities but they think they would not have to face such situation.
Abdullah Rahman, a student of the Department of Anthropology said he does not think that they had a stressful examination. “Yet, we couldn’t attend the examinations physically but took part in the examination through online. As I failed to attend class physically, I prepared myself with help of my teachers’ online class. I tried to do the best in my examinations in order to obtain a good result,” he said, adding however, the viva voce part might be a little stressful but overall the online exam was not stressful to me.
Adiba Hossain, a student of the Department of Bangla said, “We became very nervous at the first place as it was our first time to take part in an online examination and viva. However, our teachers helped us in different ways to make us relaxed.” She said however, still it is a great pressure for the all students as they have completed their examinations amid the closure of the institutions.
“I heaved a sigh of relief after completing my examinations. Otherwise, like me many students will have to get stuck in the session jam. We are grateful to our teachers,” Adiba added.
Another student of the department of oceanography said their teachers are very helpful. “Teachers’ help made students happy as all students are either taking part in the examination or some have already completed their semester examinations. We are grateful to our prestigious educational higher institutions like SUST,” he added.
The SUST authority has also installed the Learning Management Systems software (LMS) in order to continue the all sorts of academic activities and make the institution free from session jam at any cost.
Apart from these, the SUST authorities has already provided 15 GB internet data at free of cost to each students. And a large number insolvent students were given internet data at free of cost so far and the process would continue. Besides, some 900 insolvent students were also given taka 3000 each so that they do not face nay difficulties to continue study.
We must appreciate the SUST authority’s dynamic, pragmatic and tireless efforts to make the students relaxed and free the institution from the session jam amid Covid-19 pandemic. All public universities should follow the SUST’s strategies to avert session jam keeping academic activities running.
Sheikh Mehzabin Chitra is a University Correspondent of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Bangladesh Post.