ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Friday sought time from Islamabad High Court (IHC) to submit reply on a petition filed against the ‘inadequate’ online classes mechanism that according to the petitioners is inaccessible to an overwhelming majority of students.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the petition filed by students belonging to Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamic International University, Iqra University, National University of Modern Languages, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila and University of Peshawar.

Sikandar Naeem Qazi, the counsel for the petitioners, argued that the petitioners belonged to socioeconomic backward areas and many of them were studying on need-based scholarships.

They were constrained to approach the court seeking protection of their fundamental right to education guaranteed by the Constitution.

He said during the Covid-19 pandemic the students were unable to access teaching and learning material online.

Guidelines for online classes have created a non-level playing field for students which is tantamount to denial of access to education, says petitio

The lack of access to educational materials, assessment and examination material has had adverse affects on the students.

According to the counsel, the petitioners belonging to far-flung areas felt discriminated against as their rights to life and education in the prevailing circumstances had not been considered by higher educational institutions.

The guidelines for the online classes have created a non-level playing field which is tantamount to denial of access to education, he added.

The HEC had issued Covid-19 guidance notes under Section 10 of the Higher Education Commission Ordinance 2002 to the public and private universities to ensure a standardised mode of online learning. Various universities in turn issued guidelines for online learning, assessment and examination system for students.

On March 26, HEC issued a working paper on how universities may prepare for a transition to virtual instruction and formed a technical support committee.

The objective of the working paper was to ensure continuation of teaching and protect the quality of teaching from being compromised in virtual medium.

According to the petition, the universities were required to structure their online readiness measures in accordance with the HEC Covid-19 guidance notes but none of the educational institutions followed these guidelines.

It said during the period universities failed to appropriately adopt the HEC Covid-19 guidelines and the HEC, being responsible for students’ welfare, failed to monitor and evaluate the guidelines issued by the universities.

Moreover, the petition said the students had raised a number of issues with the HEC, including charging hostel, library, lab and transportation fees and lack of access to educational resource materials due to connectivity issued.

The students were assured by the HEC, in a press release on June 3, that a mechanism to address the grievances of the students would be formulated and appropriate guidelines would be issued.

However, many issues persisted such as absence of dedicated offices in universities to deal with the students facing connectivity issues.

The petition requested the court to direct the authorities to implement HEC’s guidelines related to Covid-19.

It also said educational institutions may also be asked to charge the fee proportionate to the service provided to the students during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Justice Minallah directed the HEC to nominate an authorised officer to hear the petitioners and pass an order on their applications. The court also sought a report from the HEC on the issue.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2020