1st, 3rd semester students seek resumption of offline classes
Dean Academics Affairs says KU to discuss in tomorrow’s meeting

 
Faizan Ahmad
Srinagar Feb 22 (KINS): Students of 1st and 3th semester students of Kashmir University have asked for offline classes saying their studies were getting badly affected.
Kashmir University has partially resumed classes from February 15 for 4th semester students.
However, for rest of the students, the varsity is yet to resume offline classes.
One of students of Geology Department said 4th semester students have completed 80 percent syllabbus and their offline classes have also been started.
“But 1st and 3rd semester students are yet to resume offline classes. Our session started in July 2019. After few weeks, university remained shut for months after abrogation of Article 370. We attended offline classes for a month in February-March 2020 then COVID-19 lockdown began. Since then we have not attended offline classes,” the student told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
The student said they did not learn much while attending online classes. “If we continue to attend online classes, then what is difference between district mode students and us,” the student asked.
Another student of Botany Department said their career was suffering. “Many of us could not afford electronic gadgets necessary for online classes. Also, lab and other practical work are not possible online. Research work could not be done with proper access to the university library,” the student said. “If cinemas are open, political parties hold rallies then why are deprived from education. It seems university administration deliberately wants to keep students out of the varsity.”
One of senior professors said continuing online classes could be disastrous for students. “We are not able to polish skills of students. The varsity students are mature enough how to keep social distancing. If schools are open where students won’t understand much about COVID protocols then why are university students deprived of education. In a coaching centre, 200 students are in one room but here in varsity we have maximum 50 students in a room. So there is not much threat spread of virus unlike in schools and coaching centres,” the professor said.
The students have sought Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s-who is also chancellor of the varsity-intervention so that offline classes are started at the earliest.
Dean of Academics Affairs Kashmir University Professor Shabir Ahmad Bhat said offline classes are going for 4th semester students since February 15 as per the UGC Guidelines.  “In some departments, final year students have already gone out and we have used their faculty for other students. We are yet to take a call over resumption of offline classes for 3^rd semester students.  I have convened a meeting tomorrow where decisions about resuming of offline classes and holding of examinations will be discussed,” Bhat told news agency KINS. (KINS)