Universities, colleges in Bihar switch to ‘work-from-home’ mode

B K Mishra | TNN | Updated: Apr 16, 2020, 07:12 IST

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PATNA: The extended Covid-19 lockdown has prompted universities and colleges in Bihar to adopt the work-from-home culture and turn into “distance learning centres”.
Since all educational institutes are shut, many universities have either started or are planning to begin online classes. Taking the lead, Patna University (PU) has created an e-content depository and YouTube channel for imparting online education. A timetable for the students of different subjects was uploaded to the university’s website on Wednesday. They can contact the teacher concerned for discussion on a particular topic during the specified time slot.
PU pro-vice-chancellor (VC) Dolly Sinha told this newspaper, “A detailed timetable with teachers’ names and topics of different postgraduate (PG) academic programmes has already been finalized and uploaded. Students have also started contacting teachers through WhatsApp, video chat, e-mail or cellphone. This practice is likely to continue till April 30.”
More than 22 second semester PG students of the PU physics department have participated in four online classes of one hour duration each so far. “We shared notes with the students and gave them assignments to work on,” said physics teacher Ashok Kumar Jha.
Patna Science College teachers have also conducted two classes of BCA students using the Zoom app.
PU had asked its teachers as well as guest faculty members to prepare e-content for students. More than 200 topics have already been uploaded to the university’s website.
“Online classes are being organized only for PG students of PU. All undergraduate courses have already been completed and students are anxiously waiting for their exams,” said the pro-VC.
Meanwhile, Patliputra University, Purnea University, Munger University, Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University and Magadh University have also initiated necessary steps for arranging online classes for students.
Munger University VC R K Verma has directed the faculty members to develop e-content by preparing video lectures and providing notes and assignments during the lockdown period.