Dear Admin,
Extra classes, online tuitions, assignments, quizzes, semester projects, papers, crash courses and what not. And trying to make that journey a little harsher is online classes and assignments during these unprecedented corona times.
This calamity has left thousands of students at the mercy of online learning — a method that is mostly unfamiliar and untested in Pakistan. In a bid to ensure learning is not compromised around the closure, teachers are experimenting with various e-learning platforms such as Zoom, Google classroom, Hangout, Edmodo, Facebook live and WhatsApp messenger.
A day in the life of a digital student starts with notifications instead of an alarm. There is a timetable for live streaming, and attendance is marked when a student submits his/her assignment on the online portal. Bizarre, isn’t it?
A massive shift like this is unprecedented in higher education in Pakistan. It has led to an onslaught of questions and issues being faced by the students, but just like during the normal times, university administration is ignorant and directionless.
Much has been said about the corruption of Pakistan’s politicians, generals, and judges. But large numbers of PhD professors (and the ranks below) and University administration are now out to give them stiff competition. While some still care for academic values — i.e., knowing their subjects properly and teaching them well — for many only the holy triad matters: pay, perks, and promotions. Talented students are suffering at the hands of powerful teachers’ mafia. Unchecked attitudes and zero accountability of university professors have also attenuated the standings and standards of education all over the country.
Talking of the current situation, I think, there’s been a lot of shock and stress which the students are dealing with. My first instinct after that initial shock was how the faculty and the university administration will navigate through this crisis to make life easier?
I firmly believe, to ask students to go from a conventional educational medium to an online medium without any previous online learning experience is a huge ask. And it’s not something that can be done overnight. And the administration is trying to do it overnight. Aren’t they failing miserably?
From travel restrictions to national quarantines and self-isolation requirements, to taking online classes, managing online assignments and trying to learn and understand course work on their own is a tough ask and given this uncertainty, students are looking to universities as a source of information, reassurance, and direction. But to this date, students are still complaining about lack of information and guidance.
I think that universities/faculty needs to keep communication open with the students and give them adequate advice and try to understand their genuine concerns during this difficult time. The real solution to this crisis is behavioral change. The faculty and administration would have to let go of the feudal mindset and needs to get really understanding of the situation because being a student is a struggle. “I would urge universities and their administration to fulfill their duties as academic institutions, and to take all the necessary measures to manage their students. The university isn’t just a place to study; it’s also an institution that represents the state. It needs to act in student’s interests.
Regards,
