MANGALURU: Many teaching faculty from private undergraduate colleges are peeved over the government’s guidelines on repeating virtual classes once classroom teaching begins. The colleges are all set to open for offline classes from November 17.
Agitated lecturers told TOI that they have been asked by the college managements to take offline classes starting from chapter one. “With three months of online classes, we have almost completed the syllabus. It is unfair and taxing to teach the same thing that has been taught online. We completely understand that some students couldn’t attend even single online classes due to connectivity and other issues. Yet, starting something all over which is about to end is unfair,” complained a lecturer, working in a college in Puttur.
Most of the private colleges in coastal districts had begun the academic year with online classes from August and have almost completed theory syllabus. Practical classes are pending.
An economics lecturer from a city-based private college said that college will continue with blended mode (offline/online) even after reopening. “At the same time, the college has also asked us to repeat what is being taught online. Close to 90% have been attending online and it is needless to start the same during offline classes. Adapting to the new mode of learning (online), we have tried our best to conduct classes. We will be more than happy to clear doubts or revise some chapters to help students,” a lecturer said.
Principal Fr Michael Santhumayor said they are in a catch-22 situation as there are no clear guidelines from the UGC as well the Mangalore University. “So we have decided to start classes from chapter one. It will help students who did not attend online classes,” he added.
Meanwhile, most of the government colleges haven’t started online classes and will begin the academic year with offline classes.