With the sudden effects of pandemic leading closures of educational institutions across the globe, all classroom activities have suspended. Nepal is no exception. Since March 19, all educational institution including universities have remained closed in the wake of the outbreak of deadly coronavirus and decision came from the government of Nepal.

Now both students and teachers staying home seem to be passing time without any academic pressure because they don’t have to attend the classes physically but few universities we have known – have already introduced online academic activities so that student will continue to get exposures during this COVID-19 pandemic. Specially, universities like TU, KU, and Pokhara University are running Online classes by using Google classroom. Students can be connected from any devices to online and participate in e-classes. There are some other media such as Zoom, YouTube live, Microsoft team etc. Which are being major means for online teaching- learning process.

            Although most universities and educational institution of country are introducing Virtual classes, they are struggling to continue their teaching/ learning Operation through online mechanism. The critics are highlighting the low quality of preparation. The social media is flooded with complaints from the students who have suddenly been introduce to online learning and have caught unprepared. So are many of the teachers who are not properly equipped in terms of pedagogy appropriate for remote teaching. Besides, many of the institution themselves are not prepared enough to immediately shifts their operation completely to and environment they have never consider before.

Though some universities have started conducting online classes on their own, they have yet to develop required infrastructure for online education suitable for both teacher and student. Besides, not all of teachers are skilled at taking online classes and many are not interested to do it. However, in the developing country like Nepal to get all of student connected to reliable and efficient sources of internet is the biggest challenge. Despite of all the challenges and problems still the student are called as a privilege group, but no one talks about the travail side they have to deal with.

 In this hazardous situation, many students who came from different parts of Nepal in search of quality education have stuck in Valley, neither college nor the landlord try to understand the daily problem they have to face. All the sources of income of parents have closed so does the students bank account, Most of students who have an access to smartphone even do not facilitate with the Wi-Fi connection; obviously, those students have two choice. Either recharge their phone and get connect with online classes or make a list of foods and consume less as possible to survive.

Let’s talk about a basic problem of those students who have limited money on pocket they have a harder choice than ever. If they spend their money on buying data packs rather than on foods, they have to deal with starvation. Again if they spend their money on foods instead of recharging to  get connect with online classes they have to deal with the starvation in their entire life they have to ensure they are not getting ‘’Not Qualified’’ because we all are familiar with an   education system of Nepal where marks does matter than their real understanding. If we are able to conduct the physical classes in forthcoming months as well, are universities ready to take online examination?

 Most of the students of Goverment College belongs to rural side and poor family. To participate in virtual classes’ student should have good devices and internet access. How would it be possible for them to have computer/laptop/smart phone and internet access? Accordingly, it will not be very effective to run the online teaching activities.

The private universities (like PU, KU) can conduct online teaching activities more easily. Most of the college running practical based professional courses so that student will easily participate in virtual classes. Their student are mostly coming from well families and have the ability to buy all essential tools and devices for virtual learning process. Nevertheless, it will not reasonable to draw parallel between private to public universities.

            Although there are numerous problem in online teaching-learning process in developing country like Nepal it’s the time to transform traditional classroom based education to digitalization. Digitalization of traditional university learning Paradigm is an opportunity at hand we should transformed ourselves to flow with time and situation to coop-up with ICT based smart education.

One thing is for sure, the digitization of education sector is going to stay post – epidemic and is only going to get wider, deeper and faster, In this chaotic atmosphere let’s see to the brighter side we have. We have talked many times and seen a protest against Nepal’s educational system. I believe online education is a future; In addition to, this time could be a milestone, the golden chance to transform our vision into reality, we have talked about .Despite of all the problems and challenges students are ready to follow the sudden regulation school, colleges, universities made overnight. Isn’t this a high time of working on education system instead of mistreating on students resilient? The pandemic also showed us the education system of Nepal where we just focus on management at just time of crisis. If government has validate online education then we can work on redesign of curriculum module. Henceforth the students do not foster a grievance towards their institution; let’s not create a situation for future generation where they celebrates the triumphs over traditional education system. A catastrophic event cannot be predicted we cannot say we do not have to face alike problems in the future, in many countries around the globe, online education, curriculums and online education has been familiar since long. We can cohesively conduct the physical as well as virtual classes to walk arms in arms with the world. I believe for the progress of any nation education plays a vital role hence we must ensure we acquire those therefore, for the enrichment of education we must accept the changes.

 I would like to add one adage here, ‘’every problem is an opportunity in disguise.’’ We have an opportunity to walk hand in hand with the world’s educational system. However, if we missed this opportunity of digitalization we will fall back again from the world. Knowing your weaknesses; gives a vivid understanding of things that holding you back but not accepting it, is a mistake. Briefly, Universities are like bicycles, if we do not ride and keep pushing the pedals, we will fall. We want our university to continue to run not to fall. —Pawan Mijar