DU online classes to start in 'full swing’ from 7 July

The authorities of Dhaka University (DU) have decided to begin online academic activities in 'full swing’ within 7 July.

The teachers of the university started contacting the students to get their email addresses, phone numbers and other details after the DU authorities urged its departments and institutes to take initiative for online classes in the last week of June.

Some departments of DU have already begun online classes. But many teachers are in doubt whether the initiative will be fruitful or not.

Professor ABM Obaidul Islam, chairman of physics department, told Prothom Alo, “Like other departments, we’re going for online classes by 7 July. But, I don’t know whether the initiative will be effective for the students of science faculty or how much we can engage them in the classes.”

A week after the country reported its first COVID-19 case on 8 March the DU authorities suspended all academic activities until 28 March. The suspension, which was later extended for an indefinite period, resulted in cancellation of all classes and examinations.

DU pro-VC (Academic) professor ASM Maksud Kamal said, “We don’t have financial or technical capacity like abroad. But we came to know from a survey that around 90 per cent DU students have smartphones.”

“The students will be habituated with online class once it started,” he added.