Kathmandu, March 22
Nepal Open University (NOU) closes its services including online classes and seminars among other resources from Chaitra 09, 2076 to Chaitra 21, 2076. The decision was taken by the authorities following the announcement of Prime Minister KP Oli in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic.
The Open University has released a notice reflecting upon the need for immediate stern measures as per the Prime Minister’s recent announcement.
NOU has decided to close all its services that require the physical presence of students, lecturers or staff members and even online classes, webinars, training, exams, etc.
Bhoj Raj Ghimire (Ph.D.), Course Instructor at Nepal Open University took it on social media to aware the people about this step of the University. He wrote that he yet had to follow the news. “I have to follow but are we really doing it right?”, he wrote, to which people responded in the comments with disagreement towards this step from NOU.
Dr. Roshan Chitrakar, Former Course Co-ordinator, MPhil in ICT at Nepal Open University, also commented, “The problem of NOU is that there is nobody in policymaking and decision level, who really knows the use and importance of ICT.”
He shared a post on his timeline expressing his feelings about the fact that NOU failed to lead by example, thus, losing its identity as an open and distance learning university of the country.
Other professors and lecturers also share a strong disagreement with this decision. Some of them even mentioned the superiority of IGNOU online services over Nepal’s very own NOU in the comments.
Similarly, Visiting Research Scholar at Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Mr. Dev Raj Paudyal also expressed his views on this matter.
He says, ”This was a good opportunity for NOU. We are switching to completely online delivery and I have suggested other institutions in Nepal to coordinate and collaborate with NOU to utilize their, infrastructure, knowledge and resources…!! Got confused now ..! Jay hos ..!“
NOU has also mentioned that in the meantime, it will prepare all online resources and student support to be able to continue services from Chaitra 23, 2076.
Almost every University in the world has switched to online classes at such confusing and distressing times. As per the Government’s order, all schools and colleges in Nepal have been shut down effective from Chaitra 9, 2076. Being the only Open University in Nepal, NOU should have taken this opportunity to utilize the ICT knowledge and resources to set an example.
Do you agree with this decision of NOU?
Do you think colleges and other Universities in Nepal should switch to online classes until further notice?
Let us know in the comments!