A section of engineering students of Jadavpur University staged a protest on Tuesday alleging that some teachers were insisting on online classes even after the state government has allowed resumption of in-person classes following a dip in Covid cases.
The protesting students alleged that teachers were sending links for online classes to students who are back on the campus.
After the protests, pro vice-chancellor Chiranjeeb Bhattacharya, a former dean of engineering at JU, said offline classes would start from Wednesday.
A JU official said a section of teachers, irrespective of their age, were reluctant to take classes offline citing comorbidities. “But since the state government has ordered resumption of in-person classes, we have to hold offline classes,” he added.
The students protested in front of the office of vice-chancellor Suranjan Das and pro vice-chancellor Bhattacharya.
They said they went to the class and found the rooms locked.
In some of the rooms that were open, the benches were missing, said Aritra Majumder, the chairperson of the students’ union in the engineering and technology faculty. “A large section of the teachers are sending links for conducting classes over the online platforms. Students have suffered for close to two years following the closure of campuses. Offline classes have to be resumed immediately,” said Majumder.
Hours later, pro-VC Bhattacharya issued a notice that said: “It is notified that in terms of the faculty council resolution and demand of the FET students’ union, all classes….. will be, henceforth, held in offline mode. The heads of the department are requested to take necessary action….so that the classes are regularly held from tomorrow in physical mode in accordance with….resolution.”
VC Suranjan Das said: “We are taking steps so the classes are held in offline mode. Classes could not be held due to some glitches. We are addressing the issue. Classes in the IIEST, Shibpur, IIT Kharagpur are being held in the online mode.”
Another JU official said students’ refusal to wear masks in classrooms and follow protocols have scared teachers.
The Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association had earlier complained to the vice-chancellor that: “A majority of the teachers state that most of the students who are visiting the campus now are not wearing masks…. All the teachers feel that use of masks should be mandatory for attending classes in physical mode.”