Varsities adapting to online classes

Speakers discuss Covid-19 impacts on the education system

ISLAMABAD: With the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic disrupting daily life the world over, one of the hardest-hit sectors has been the education sector. Many varsities have had to quickly adapt to the new normal of online classes while others, where the situation has improved, are starting to reopen but not before making adequate medical preparation for it.

This was discussed by representatives of various higher education institutions from around the world in an international webinar on “Reopening of the educational institutes post-Covid-19: Effects And Precautions To Be Observed.” The webinar had been organised by the Center for Global and Strategic Studies (CGSS) on Monday.

Niaz Ahmad, the vice-chancellor (VC) of the University of Punjab, stated that the varsity has worked to make virtual education effective.

“This pandemic hit our country when universities were completing their sessions,” he said.

MNS University of Agriculture Multan VC Dr Asif Ali said that they have developed a formula for their own hand sanitizer to combat the Covid-19 crises while classes were being shifted to online programmes.

Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) VC Prof Dr Athar Mahboob said that students and teachers are following government instructions.

“In this new post-Covid-19 world new modules and new learning traditions will be introduced,” he said, adding, “Laboratory tools have to be virtualized.” Faisal Mushtaq, the chief executive of the Millennium Education University in Islamabad, stated that they need to redefine digitally-inclusive education for them to reconsider infrastructure readiness for these crises.

Wang Qianting, of the China Media Group in Beijing, stated that China is testing for Covid-19 at every educational institute.

“We monitor temperatures twice a day, even robots are active in testing for Covid-19.”

Prof Xu Wenhong, from the Institute of Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies at China Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), stated that before reopening educational institutes, it is important to record travel history of students and faculty while educational institutions must have sufficient medical supplies, centres. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2020.