Depression among students is a challenge of e-learning: BUBT VC

The Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT) Prof. Dr. Fayyaz Khan has expressed his deep concern over the present condition of higher education in Bangladesh.

He said, “High cost and low-speed mobile data, weak internet backbone, expensive electronic devices and the financial crisis of students are few challenges for Covid period education in Bangladesh.”

Dr. Fayyaz Khan came up with the concern while speaking at a webinar on E-Learning and the Future of Higher Education. The webinar was organized by Faith Bangladesh on January 09, 2021.

He expressed his concern as a good number of public universities in the country could not even offer online classes and exams with nine months gone under the new normal condition, a press release issued by the university confirmed.

Dr Khan also said, “Depression among students and no physical access to labs and libraries during the pandemic are the main obstacles to go for the e-learning.” “Despite that, BUBT took some initiatives to face problems, but we have more things to do with related body’s support”, he added.

The keynote paper was delivered at the webinar by Dr. Chris Dede, Writh Professor in Learning Technologies, Harvard University.

Other speakers were Dr. Badrul Khan, President, McWeadon Education, Dr. Aftab Uddin, CEO, McWeadon Education, Dr. Joseph Rene Corbil, Professor, Educational Technology Teaching and Learning, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and Dr. Rgggie Smith, Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director, United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA).

Speakers said that the internet can give students some new privileges, but physical presence is also needed for effective higher education. Engineering and medical students cannot learn properly by relying only on the internet-based classes. It is true that in the future, online education is not the only solution. Scholars also suggested that the education system needs the government’s more support for both private and public institutions.