A JU official said that offline classes in some departments of the Engineering and Technology faculty have begun on February 10. Source: Facebook
Shifting from online to offline classes in Jadavpur University (JU) will take some time as many students are in faraway places and need to arrive on the campus, the Jadavpur University Teachers Association (JUTA) has said.
Offline classes were scheduled to begin in JU, along with other institutions, on February 3. Accordingly, academic offices were opened and all faculty members in Arts, Science and Engineering departments turned up, said the university’s registrar, Snehamanju Basu.
“However, many students had requested that offline classes be held after February 15, mainly owing to transportation problems. It was decided that dates for different departments will be fixed in consultation with students. Still, some students went ahead with a protest,” said JUTA general secretary Partha Pratim Roy.
In a letter, JUTA informed, “Many students of various years have said they will not attend the offline classes now. Considering the ground reality, we must take department-wise decisions. Rules and regulations must be the same for students of all years.”
The letter stressed that teachers have always given priority to students’ problems, and contended that if classes are held physically, examinations must also be strictly conducted in the offline mode.
“We are shifting from the online to the offline mode after a long time. For a smooth transition, some time may be needed by all stakeholders of the university for things to settle down,” Roy added.
A JU official said that offline classes in some departments of the Engineering and Technology faculty have begun on February 10, but physical classes will resume in full steam only after mid-February.