Worried about future, engineering students demand reopening of campuses

Students from premium engineering institutes such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are demanding reopening of campuses that have been shut since March last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Worried about their future, engineering students have also taken to the social media to protest against the prolonged closure of colleges. They are demanding reopening of colleges as Covid cases across the country are on a decline. 

When Shiksha contacted Baberiya Sukrambhai, who is pursuing MTech in Agriculture Biotechnology from IIT Kharagpur, he said, “It is very difficult for us to learn a subject like engineering completely online. It requires practical and offline interaction. We are being deprived of using campus facilities such as library and laboratory in the current academic session, courtesy online classes. The authorities should reopen the campus at the earliest so that we can study properly.” 

He said, “Though the institute has allowed MTech and MSc students to attend physical classes from October, what about students who are pursuing undergraduate courses from the institute.” 

Echoing similar concerns, Ankit Verma, a BTech third year student at Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad, said, “Now that COVID-19 cases are decreasing across the country, with a few exceptions, and life is returning to normalcy in most areas, there is an urgent need to reopen campuses. From shopping malls to theatres to schools, everything has opened with safety protocols in place, then why should IITs suffer.” 

He said, “IIT Dhanbad has only allowed MTech final year and PhD students on the campus. Also, BTech final year students will be returning to the campus on September 20. There is no notification on first, second and third year students.” 

He further said, “I really want to get back to the campus as learning with peers is far better than studying online. Also, there are lot of online challenges. Sometimes there is no internet and electricity which makes online learning very difficult.”

Students take to Twitter, demand offline classes

On Twitter, the students have been trending hashtags such as #ReopenIIT, #ReopenNIT and #ReopenEngineeringColleges. Check below the students’ reactions on Twitter.

IITs opening in slots 

However, many IITs are opening in a phased manner for physical classes for students who have to complete their studies, especially those who need to access labs for practicals. 

Adarsh Tomar, who is studying at IIT Kanpur, said, “Our institute has starting calling 50 per cent PhD, MTech and dual degree students in batches. Only those students who need access to laboratories for their work are allowed to come back to the campus on priority.” 

Sarthak Walia, a third-year student at IIT Goa, said, “I think all IITs are opening in slots. I am back to my hostel. For now, only those students who are facing internet issues at home, or need to access laboratories to complete their studies are allowed to attend physical classes at IIT Goa.” 

Varun Khandelwal, who is studying at IIT Bombay, said, “I am back to the campus. MTech and PhD students are allowed on the campus. I think BTech students can also come to the campus. They just have to fill a form and take permission from authorities to take offline classes.” 

Read more: 

• IIT Patna reopens campus for PhD students 
• College reopening live updates: When will colleges, universities reopen In India? Check out state-wise details