Teachers favour online mode of leaning, but ready to come anytime needed

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 29

The Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA) feels that its teachers should continue with online mode of learning, instead of coming to the departments, till any further guidelines by the University Grant Commission (UGC).

The suspension of teaching at Panjab University (PU) will end on June 30 and keeping in mind the current scenario, the association feels that the authorities should continue to take precautions for the coming days.

Earlier, the university authorities were planning to call the teaching staff from June 16 onwards, but the decision was held back. Now with the rising of two Covid-19 cases, in the campus, and suspension of exit classes’ exams, till July 15, the teaching fraternity wants to continue with work from home mode of working.

“There has been no schedule for any classes, examinations or anything related to semester’s activity. So, we expect that authorities would keep us under work from home operations, atleast till July 10,” said Rajesh Gill, president, PUTA. She further added: “They number of cases has been increasing day by day and given the preparation by university authorities wherein no regular sanitization of the buildings were carried, it’s better to work from home. Precaution is always better. And yes, at given point whenever university authorities decide to hold classes, exams or any activity, the teachers will join within any hesitation.”

In their last notification, the university decided that while teaching will remain suspended till June 30, only 1/3rd of the non-teaching staff in university departments/centres and regional centres will attend office. It was ail decided that principals of the colleges can call employees on need basis. The affiliated colleges located in Chandigarh and Punjab were asked to follow the guidelines issued by the respective governments.

The decision on calling the teachers to the campus also depends upon the unlock-2 guidelines by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). “The next guidelines by the MHA will decide the future course of action. The UGC and MHRD will make the next move accordingly and it will be decided to call the teaching staff or not. The university will not make any move surpassing UGC guidelines,” said a source close to the matter.