FAISALABAD: Highlighting the flaws of online study arrangements has landed three students of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad in trouble as the administration issued them a charge sheet with a direction to appear before the Disciplinary Advisory Committee (DAC) on May 4.

Majority of the UAF students belong to rural areas where internet speed is [somewhat] slow as compared to cities. Scores of city areas are also facing speed issues these days as internet usage has considerably increased due to lockdown.

The charge sheet reads: “You have violated the UAF social media policy and you have involved yourself in indiscipline and misconduct. You are directed to appear before the DAC on May 4 in the office of the chairman in the institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences to submit a written reply as well as verbal explanation to defend your position against the charge sheet. If you fail to do so, ex-parte decision will be made based upon the record/facts available with the DAC.”

The students belong to MSc (Hons) Horticulture Science, B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture Science and BSc (Hons) Human Nutrition and Dietetics.

Owing to the lockdown, the UAF administration like other institutions has made online study arrangements so that students could continue with their study and avoid wastage of time.

The administration has charged the students for highlighting problems of the online system. A group of students said the university system was unable to manage the online load.

One of the students said they received a message repeatedly that database connection failed. “It is possible that the database is overloaded or otherwise not running properly, the site administrator should also check that the database details have been correctly specified in config.php.”

He said a number of students have also been facing [login] problem as the university didn’t create their accounts.

“Fee slip is mandatory for the login account and the boarders had to leave the hostels immediately following the government instructions. Nobody is allowed to enter the hostels to get their fee slips for creating [sign-in] account.”

He said a number of students did not have the internet facility at their villages which would ultimately drop their CGPA (cumulative grade point average). He said the university should delay the semester in the larger interest of students.

He said the students got disappointed with the online classes arrangements as the theory and practical were essential for them. “Neither the students are getting proper education through online classes nor they have any opportunity for the practical.”

Another student said the course was being dispatched to them through WhatsApp and they were unable to access it.

He said the administration had always tried to suppress the voice of students even on ‘genuine’ issues.

A university official said the DAC committee would decide on the issue.

In January 2016, the UAF had rusticated a PhD student -- Kashan Haider Gilani -- on charges of posting comments on Facebook against the Kissan Mela organised by the administration.

In June 2017, the UAF expelled four students on charges of criticising the university administration on social media and misleading fellow students.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2020