The decision to hold online classes at Jagannath University (JnU) has caused controversy, as both students and teachers strongly disagree with it.
Following the university's 98th syndicate meeting on Thursday, where the decision for online classes was made, an outcry has erupted on social media on Friday.
Professors and students have expressed their dissatisfaction with the shift to online learning. Shah Nistar Jahan Kabir, a professor in the Mass Communication and Journalism Department, took to Facebook to voice her frustration, stating, "Classes should be held in classrooms, not online. Face-to-face interaction is crucial; I refuse to teach without seeing the faces of my students."
Students have also rallied against the decision. Nilav Naim questioned the rationale behind online classes, accusing teachers of lacking the courage to engage with students in person.
Another student Md Rashed Rana criticised the decision as outdated, emphasising that the pandemic is over and suggesting that the move to online classes is unjustified given the current situation.
Taimur Mobin echoed similar sentiments, calling for an immediate return to offline classes.
The discontent extends to organised actions; the 18th batch of accounting students has issued a press release condemning online classes and demanding the resignation of the university’s Vice Chancellor and proctorial body. Tafhim Rafi, a representative of the batch, stated, "We are boycotting all classes and exams until our demands are met. We will return to classrooms once our rights are restored."
In response, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Sadeka Halim acknowledged the dissatisfaction but suggested that the interim government’s formation might influence future decisions. She stated, "While some universities are adopting online classes, we will review our approach once the interim government is in place and consider transitioning back to offline classes."
The situation remains fluid as JnU navigates the heated debate between maintaining online education and returning to traditional in-person instruction.
