Online education has been the latest shift in education all over the world. Delhi University jumped in on it as well, the landing remained crooked though. As the University pushed for online classes, the authorities forgot to keep the vulnerabilities and conditions of their audience in mind, hence, the same failed to reach the students in a fulfilling manner.
Students of Delhi University tried exhausting all their resources to have a say in their future’s decision by taking on to social media, writing letters, organizing online protests, contacting teachers, etc.
Despite all pleas, the authorities chose to exhibit their power and promoted Open Book Examinations – an idea full of flaws. In numerous letters, texts, messages, students from different parts of India presented some simple logical reasons for not seeing this option as feasible, one of which was the lack of understanding through online classes. The noble idea of Online classes fails to deliver in reality. In surveys conducted by DUTA and DU Express, approximately 85% of the students have mentioned that they are not in favor of OBE. DU Express’ survey further learned that more than half of the students could not attend online lectures either due to network issues or because they were simply not being held.
The students have further argued that the virtual mode of learning has ceased to be beneficial. The factors attributing to this problem, inter alia, are lack of study materials, unwantedly disrupting household conditions, quality of education reducing considerably with virtual education. The material provided by teachers has been inadequate and the 40 minutes free Zoom discussions (opted by most teachers) are full of the network, equipment, or technical errors.
The concept of online learning has room to grow, however, the future of students shouldn’t be gambled upon by using a tool that might prove to be impotent, under the available infrastructure in India.
Half of the battle has been won, all thanks to the statement issued by the education system and the unity displayed by DU Students. It will now only be fair to say that the OBE’s first trial doesn’t harm the final year students’ future.
Image Source – NDTV
