College students unhappy with online lectures

Yonsei University campus in Seoul, where many students are usually crowded during the beginning of the new semester, remains virtually empty, Monday, due to the school's decision to delay the spring semester amid growing fears of the novel coronavirus infection on the campus. /Yonhap

By Bahk Eun-ji

More than 80 percent of university students here are expressing concerns over the efficacy of online lectures they will be given following their schools' decision to keep campuses closed until March 22 amid the continued coronavirus outbreak, a survey showed Tuesday.

The students also said that the colleges should refund part of their tuition for the spring semester if they are not offering classroom lectures until March 23, instead of March 2.

The spring semester will begin March 9 at universities, a week later than usual, according to the Ministry of Education. However, under ministry guidelines, school officials said they will only provide online lectures for the following two weeks until March 23 so that students do not have to go to campuses.

The Association of Student Councils Network, the union of the nation's 49 university student councils, conducted an online survey of 12,213 members nationwide for five days from Feb. 27.

According to the survey, 83.8 percent of respondents said universities should refund part of their school tuition for the delay in opening as compensation for the period they replace offline lectures with online ones. Among them, 7,547 or 59.8 percent said the refund was "highly necessary," while 3,023 or 24 percent said it was "necessary."

The respondents were also concerned over the quality of the online and makeup classes while alternative options were limited.

When multiple answers were allowed, 70.2 percent said the universities should implement measures for students with disabilities, such as subtitles and spoken language interpretation in the online classes. About 50 percent said there were insufficient alternatives to classes that cannot be replaced by ones online, such as practicals, performances and laboratory work, while 40.9 percent were concerned that the online classes would fall short compared to face-to-face ones.

According to the education ministry, even if universities postpone the start of classes and reduce their number, current laws stipulate that a minimum of 15 hours per semester must be taught.

Universities that delay their classes will be required to provide makeup ones to students either in the morning or evening during the week or on weekends. Online classes are expected to be scheduled as alternatives.

When Sungkyunkwan University announced its decision to postpone opening for a week, it also halted classes for an additional two weeks.

"Students will be allowed to attend classes in classrooms from April 6, as online lectures will be provided for four weeks," said Shin Dong-ryeol, president of the university said in a letter sent to students. The president added that this was the only solution the university had when it was necessary to protect students, faculty members and school staff from infection by the highly contagious virus.

Kookmin University will also operate all classes online for four weeks after opening. Other universities in Seoul, including Konkuk, Kyunghee, Sejong, Yonsei and Hanyang, Ewha Woman's University and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies will provide online lectures for two weeks, according to their school officials.

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