This may encourage the academic institutions in Pakistan to invest more in their IT support
KARACHI: Ever since the Higher Education Commission has ordered classes to be taken online, the academic world has gone into a frenzy. As academic institutions have been trying to adjust to a new reality, with a majority not technologically equipped to take online classes, students are also worried. Considering the electricity and internet outages in the city of Karachi, it is not in students’ control if and when they are able to attend online classes.
Perhaps it would be wise to integrate systems such as Zoom in Pakistan which provide the ability to record lectures. A lot of international universities in the US and the UK are using this platform to conduct classes as many of their students have moved back home and due to time zone differences are unable to be present for class. While Zoom has also caused much debate due to the issues like hacking and classroom safety, so far the programme has been the only successful means by which classes have resumed. This may encourage the academic institutions in Pakistan to invest more in their IT support as well as advancements in technology for the future. The efforts done so far by the HEC, however, are admirable.
Asim Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2020.
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