Jadavpur University will revive free coaching classes for NET (National Eligibility Test) aspirants on digital platforms in October, said a university official.

The classes, which used to be held on the campus, got suspended in March as the campus had to be closed because of the Covid pandemic.

The university has decided to revive the classes on digital platforms following an appeal from a large number of students ahead of the NET exams, to be held in phases from September 24 to November 5. Candidates who qualify NET are deemed eligible to be recruited as assistant professor in universities and colleges.

Registrar Snehamanju Basu issued a notice on Tuesday appealing to the teachers who are willing to take preparatory classes to enlist their names on netcoaching.teachers@jadavpuruniversity.in by September 30.

Pro-vice-chancellor Pradip Kumar Ghosh said the preparatory classes would be held in the distance digital mode, which the university follows for regular undergraduate and postgraduate classes.

“A large number of students appealed to us to revive the coaching classes. We have decided to resume the classes through the distance digital mode as no one knows when the campus will reopen and in-person classes will start,” Ghosh told The Telegraph.

An official said a central repository would be created on the university’s website, which would have a section where course materials and lectures for the preparatory classes would be uploaded.

Once the content is uploaded, the addresses of the files — in Word or PDF format, audio notes or video recordings — will be given to the students. Teachers will share the addresses of the files with the students through email or any messaging service.

The university has subscribed to online platforms for more space so that the content for the undergraduate and postgraduate classes can be uploaded. “The same platform will be used to upload the content for NET aspirants,’’ the official said.

In addition to this, lectures and study materials will be uploaded on YouTube and students will be given links to view the content.

A teacher said students from economically weaker sections, who rely on free coaching, had appealed to the JU authorities for restoration of the coaching classes.

Some of them tried to take coaching elsewhere after the campus shut down in March. “But they could not afford the expenses as their financial condition has worsened further during the pandemic,” he said.

Vice-chancellor Suranjan Das said the success in conducting regular classes for undergraduate and postgraduate students on digital platforms encouraged them to revive coaching classes for NET aspirants.