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Student union says time to return to physical lectures; UGC says not yet
Student unions are demanding the return to physical lectures but the University Grants Commission (UGC) said this week that several factors–including the need for higher vaccination numbers and the fear of crowded hostels springing new COVID-19 clusters–were delaying the move.
It was also found that the online system was largely effective and authorities are to examine the possibility of combining remote learning and physical presence.
The Inter University Student’s Federation (IUSF) protested opposite the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday over several demands, including that all State campuses be reopened. They have been closed for over two years, following the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019 and then the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Everything else is resuming normalcy, why can’t state universities do so, too?” questioned Wasantha Mudalige, IUSF Convener. Preschools, schools and offices have restarted with limitations but no date has been set yet for universities.
Following the protest a discussion was held between an Additional Secretary at the Presidential Secretariat and the IUSF, with the union wanting solutions over the next few weeks. If none was forthcoming, the protests will continue, Mr Mudalige warned.
Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said this week he didn’t know about the protests and sought more information from the Sunday Times. He then referred us to the UGC saying it had been given the necessary instructions.
University education is hostel-based, said UGC Chairman Sampath Amaratunge: “In the University of Sri Jayewardenepura alone there are 7,000 hostellers.” This high dependency on hostel facilities means it is unsafe to reopen universities at full capacity because it could cause virus clusters within premises, he said.
“We will be moving to a dual mode of education with physical and online facilities which students can utilise,” Prof Amaratunge said. PCR tests and other medical facilities necessary for physical operation of universities are available, he said, adding that some students refused vaccination despite the UGC’s efforts. He urged students to get jabbed as it would accelerate the return to campus life. By December, 90 percent of university-goers had been double-vaccinated, he said.
There was a vast discrepancy in online education based on the economic backgrounds of students, Mr Mudalige said. There were still students without access to laptops or smart phones and those who faced connectivity issues. Students with laptop access were not provided the necessary equipment. Many also faced problems at home, he said adding that the IUSF believes online education was an unsuccessful method of learning.
There have been no complaints regarding student difficulties in accessing laptop and network facilities. Prof Amaratunge countered. They predominantly used smart phones for lectures. Students with connectivity issues use communication centres. “They are the cream of the crop. They will always find a way instead of complaining.”
Some students who completed the GCE Advanced Level in 2018 have still not set foot inside a university, Mr Mudalige said. It was the same for the 2019 and 2020 batches. The prior batches are yet to finish their degrees. The time spent studying had increased by one year. Practical exams have also been postponed. All this affected their ability to enter the job market, he said.
“To admit students from the 2019 A/L batch, we have to finish the degree programme of the final year students in the relevant year. This was possible because the programmes had been conducted online, the UGC chairman said.
The IUSF also calls for more money to be allocated to ensure student safety amidst the pandemic. The Rajarata University has 8,000 students but no permanent doctor or ambulance. Such facilities were crucial when fighting a pandemic within university premises, Mr Mudalige said.
He also said that the Mahapola scholarship scheme has not kept up with the cost of living. While each student now received Rs 5,000, it must be increased keeping inflation in mind.
The UGC recommended universities at 50 percent capacity only in response to student protests, he continued. But in practical terms they were operating at an even lesser capacity.
At present, 150,000 students were enrolled in State universities. This meant 75,000 of them should attend physical classes at any given time. But from 13,000 students enrolled at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, a minimum of 3,000 were present. Rajarata University has 8,000 students but fewer than 1,000 were called in.
“Students have only been allowed in for practical or written exams, not for academic purposes,” he said. “They should be able to study, use the library and engage in extra-curricular activities, not just do exams.”
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