Corona Times Survey on #Online_Classes

                                               

        Students on Online Classes

This is a student version 'Referendum' conducted by SFS:

Students For Society (SFS) started a Referendum for Students opinion on Online Classes & Exams on 30 May, 2020 :

The form consisted of 9 Questions and 519 Students from various departments have paticipated in the Survey. The question wise results of the Survey are as follows 

Q 1: Do you feel satisfied with the online teaching?

 90% of Students said they don’t 

Q 2 : How is internet service in your area?

Only 1/4 students have Good service and Half the students have average service and 1/4 students have poor service 

Q 3 : Where do you stay in Amritsar?

40% students stay in Hostel; 33% are Day Scholars; 8% stay in PGs and 19% students stay anywhere else

Q 4 : Did you take books back when you left your hostels or PGs?

Only 8% have taken their Books with them while 55% have not; while 37% are Dayscholars

Q 5 : Do you feel conducting exams during such crisis is a good idea?

94% students responded against this and only 2.49% in favour while 3% didn’t answered

Q 6 : Will it be possible to maintain social distancing in University?

89% students said it wil not be possible while 10.54% responded in favour 

Q 7 : Do you think students should be promoted?

91% students responded in favour of this, 4.98% were against while 4.02% didn’t answered

Q 8 : Please share your experience of online classes

Most of students have problems regarding this. As, Internet speed & availability is not ubiquitous. Also, Many had opinion that Online teaching can’t substitute the Classroom teaching & things can’t be learnt in such a way

Q 9 : Please share your opinion on examination pattern

*Students showed their Dissatisfaction about Online Teaching as:*

One of the student from Jammu and Kashmir state that, *“It (online Teaching) is very bad as I am from Jammu and Kashmir. So here only 2g network is available due to which it is very difficult to cope up with the studies.”*

One said: *“ its totally worst. They are completing their syllabus only by giving the assignments on Google Classroom. They even don’t take any zoom sessions. They are given whole unit as an assignment.”*

Another had the view:*“Online class is just a way to release teachers from burden of syllabus. So they can claim that syllabus is complete and students are not ready for exams…”*

*We have formulated following demands for the University Administration in regard with matter:*

1. University must hold classes for atleast 15 days so that the students could get their doubts cleared. This has also been recommended by UGC.

2. Examinations should be conducted only when the situation normalizes as as it is highly dangerous and nothing less than putting the lives of students at risk, to conduct exams in a current situation.

3. Status of Examinations of Intermediate students i.e. other than Final Year must be clarified Immediately in current situation.

~ Students For Society (SFS)

 

Solidarity with Nationwide Strike Call- FEDCUTA

Press Release: 17 May 2020

• The Federation of Central Universities Teachers Associations (FEDCUTA) opposes attempts to subvert Labour Laws and to surreptitiously implement the NEP.

The FEDCUTA expresses its strong opposition to the unabashed subversion of existing labour laws and the implementation of the NEP when the country is facing a serious health crisis. It expresses its solidarity with the nationwide strike call issued by trade union bodies. 

Amidst the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, when educational institutions, factories and other business establishments are shut in the country, and lakhs of workers face the brunt of employment and are out on the streets, the Government’s priorities seem to be focused on protecting the interests of the big corporates. States after states are dismantling existing labour laws. Indications are there that the New Education Policy will also be implemented very soon. All of this suggests that the interests of big capital need to be protected at all costs.

For several years now, the Central Govt has been attempting to bring about changes to the labour laws. One Bill has already been passed in Parliament and another Code is awaiting approval before the Select Committee, where some members have opposed it. In such a scenario, the Central Government is trying to dismantle existing labour laws through State Governments of UP and MP. The latter has issued an Order to suspend all labour laws for 1200 days. 6 other states have increased the working hours from the internationally accepted 8 hour norm to 12 hours. Apart from this, the writing on the wall indicates that other states would also be taking similar steps.

Subverting the labour laws in such insidious ways is not only unlawful but it also constitutes a cruel attack on the rights of the working people. The right to unionise and to take recourse to collective bargaining is being trampled upon. The economic condition of workers is already bad and their ability to buy essential goods is already very low, which is reflected in the economic slump that we see. Most economists believe that government investment in the public sector must increase in order to overcome the economic crisis. What we see instead is that even in times of such a crisis the Central Government is keen on protecting the interests of big business by attacking the rights of the working class.

One sees a similar story playing out in the field of higher education. Permanent appointments have not taken place for years. Teachers have been denied promotions for over a decade. Contractualising of jobs is on the increase. Now, with the implementation of the NEP, educational institutions will be handed over to Boards of Governors (BOGs). All State and Central Universities and Colleges will be declared autonomous. Unions will become a thing of the past. Commercialization and privatization of educational institutions is the news of the day. All this is happening when people are cooperating with the Government in times of this crisis by implementing the lockdown. Instead of focusing its attention on getting the country out of the current crisis, the Government has shown its intent very clearly – that of protecting private interests.

The FEDCUTA demands from the Central Government that it issues instructions to State Governments to not effect any changes to the labour laws. The FEDCUTA also warns the Government from misusing the present crisis to implement the NEP. It will have disastrous consequences for education and for the country at large.

Rajib Ray, President

D K Lobiyal, Secretary