For the first time, Darjeeling Hills University students in the fourth semester of postgraduate courses can attend physical (offline) classes at North Bengal University from Monday to June 23.
Sources said a total of 163 students of PG courses in English, history, mass communication, mathematics, Nepali and political science will attend classes at NBU located on the outskirts of Siliguri. Altogether, 30 teachers from different universities and colleges will take the classes.
“Ever since the varsity opened in the hills (in November 2021), only online classes have been conducted for students. This is because it lacks adequate infrastructure to conduct offline classes. Also, there is a paucity of teachers,” said a source.
Although DHU has been temporarily opened at the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Darjeeling's Mungpoo, there is no accommodation for teachers and students.
A source said that Prem Poddar, who became the vice-chancellor of DHU on March 24, started taking initiatives to start offline classes for the students of the varsity.
“Initially, he planned to start the classes on a temporary basis at the new building of Presidency University in Kurseong. But the proposal didn’t work,” the source added.
He also held talks with Omprakash Mishra, the immediate past vice-chancellor of NBU. Eventually, NBU lent a helping hand.
“Classes have been arranged for the fourth-semester students at the NBU campus. Teachers and students have been informed. We plan to conduct the exams also in offline mode,” said Poddar.
The students, who reached NBU on Monday, appeared elated.
“Finally, we could attend offline classes. We hope the state will take the necessary initiatives to build our hill varsity building with classrooms, hostels and other infrastructure,” said Akriti Gurung, a student of the hill varsity who hails from Darjeeling.