Governor Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday held a virtual meeting with Vice Chancellors of universities of Jharkhand to take stock of academic activities in the universities and colleges at a time when offline classes have been suspended due to Covid-19 pandemic.
The Vice Chancellors informed the Governor that they have switched over to online methods of teaching and online classes and are regularly monitored by the head of the department and progress and responses of students are reviewed.
From April last year academic institutions were closed following Covid-19 after which universities and colleges gradually moved to online classes.
While on an experimental basis semester examinations are being taken online; some universities said that they are keen to conduct final examinations through an online system. Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, Jharkhand University of Technology, Vinoba Bhave University and few other universities said that they are thinking in the direction of taking online examinations.
But acting vice chancellor of Ranchi University Kamini Kumar said that Ranchi University having 1.65 lakh students taking the final examination through an online system may be difficult due to logistic issues. A large number of students are from rural areas where network accessibility can be an issue besides there is no secured digital platform to conduct examinations involving over a lakh plus students. Ranchi University was of the opinion that it will take an offline examination after the situation improves.
The Governor opined that in the current situation online classes are the only option left since physical classes can’t be arranged. She said that universities will have to ensure quality teaching as well as regularization of academic sessions.
She expressed concern that online examination may increase the tendency of cheating in the examination hence universities will have to develop a secured digital platform to conduct examinations without any chance of malpractice.
The Governor reviewed academic and administrative activities of universities and said that universities should exchange ideas on how to make online classes interactive and interesting. She said that teachers should upload their lectures so that maximum numbers of students are benefitted.
Ranchi University for instance uses ‘Cisco Webex’ to organize online classes. The university also uses its community radio service ‘Khanchi radio’ to connect with students. The university also uploads broadcast contents on social sites.
Universities also informed about social works undertaken by students during the time of Covid 19. For instance, students of Ranchi University run 24X7 online counselling.