The teachers of Calcutta University have suggested to the administration that in-person classes be resumed only for the senior semesters initially as a “staggered resumption would be prudent” during the pandemic.
In a letter to vice-chancellor Sonali Chakravarti Banerjee, the teachers have said in the beginning only the practical classes might be initiated in the science and technology faculty.
While holding the theory classes, they have suggested, large classes be conducted “in a blended mode allowing half the class on a given day alternatively and online streaming of this class for students who are not being allowed on that day”.
The state government is holding vaccination camps across campuses in preparation of a possible reopening of campuses after the Puja break.
According to the teachers, large classrooms/central facilities within the campus should be used for elective theory classes to maintain physical distancing.
The teachers of Jadavpur University recently wrote to vice-chancellor Suranjan Das and also suggested staggered reopening.
Sankhayon Choudhury, the general secretary of the Calcutta University teachers’ association, said last year they had procured facilities for setting up e-classrooms with video conferencing facilities under Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP), a central government scheme to improve the quality of technical education.
“This was done around the time the pandemic had set in as we wanted to keep the academic activities alive overcoming the odds. But the facilities could not be set up because the campus was shut. If we are provided the bandwidth, these could be used for conducting classes in a blended mode,” said Choudhrury, a professor of the computer science and engineering department and a former coordinator of the TEQUIP project in CU.
Elective classes have been suggested as the number of students in such classes is less.
The teachers have said hostels may be reopened only for the senior/final semester students for the time being.
VC Chakravarti Banerjee said: “The suggestions would be discussed in the faculty council and syndicate.”
