The deadly coronavirus has already had a hugely adverse impact on higher education across the globe. The world has come to a standstill with the academics encountering new ways of teaching-learning activities under lockdown. In the wake of the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, all direct classroom activities have been suspended in most of the counties of the world. In Bangladesh, all educational institutions are now closed. It has been almost a month since the students came to their university campuses. However, following the closure of the higher education institutions (since 17 March), the University Grants Commission (UGC) issued an office order encouraging the university teachers to give online classes so that academic loss can be minimised. The UGC directives came on 24 March. But, very recently, a new debate over the holding of online exams and the grading system has arisen after another press release - signed by Dr Shamsul Arefin, director, Public Relations and Right to Information Division, UGC - has been issued on 4 April.

The recently-circulated press release requested the private universities to stop holding the final exams online, awarding the grades and continuing the admission process for the next semester (Summer 2020). It also mentioned that few private universities have decided to assess the students' academic performance, award the grades without final exams and enroll new students in BA (Honours) programmes for Summer 2020 without admission tests. The UGC termed it unethical and unacceptable. According to the UGC, those private university authorities made decisions without their consent or consultation. Finally, they urged the universities not to hold final exams online, award grades without exams and continue admission process for enrolling new students in Summer 2020. However, they did not put any official embargo on the "online classes".

Currently, the number of universities stands at 149 (public - 46 and private - 103). We know that not a single public university introduced the online classes in the time of coronavirus pandemic. Only some private universities started online academic activities by giving online classes since 18 March. Likewise, we - Stamford University faculty members - also started giving online classes and found the students responsive and cooperative. Now many teachers seem to be ready to explore and experience a new mode of delivery. In fact, this has been a paradigm shift amid the global epidemic.

Now the question remains - why are the final examinations so sacrosanct when the assessment tools for a 100-mark course include class test, quiz, presentation, assignment, attendance and midterm examination? Usually final exams carry only 30-40 percent marks. And academic sessions in most of the private universities are close to the end of the semester (Spring 2020). It might take another 2 weeks to end the semester. Only final exams are left. Since most of the private universities offer 3 semesters a year, they need to be very regular in following the academic calendars. Even students do not want to face any unwanted academic halt.

If we look at the US higher education system, we know that a faculty member teaching a particular course has some academic freedom to design his/her course and assess the students' performance independently. So, given the current critical situation, the faculty members here can also award the grades without conventional exams. And an assignment or term-paper carrying 30% marks could be an alternative to the conventional final examination.

As for the admission test, the private universities usually follow the UGC guidelines. Since Summer 2020 is nearing, they need to take some preparations to get the admission process done on time. And if the situation worsens further, they need to have a backup plan. We know that many universities in UK and US enroll the students without admission tests. Rather, they consider O & A-levels grades, reference letters and statements of purpose. Here, during this current critical situation, the admission process could be done on the basis of the students' SSC and HSC results instead of letting them sit for admission tests. If not, what's the use of holding the public examinations? Besides, the traditional admission tests are not the only means of assessing a student's ability or merit.

It also sounds a bit unbecoming and contradictory that we boastfully talk about digital Bangladesh, but - at the same time - our state-run regulatory body like UGC discourages the universities to run online academic activities - - such as holding exams online, grading the students' performance unconventionally and enrolling students without admission test. This is also very unfortunate that not a single public university could set an example of introducing online academic activities in the time of Corona pandemic. Meanwhile, we have noticed that Dhaka University has postponed all classes and exams for an indefinite period.

However, Dhaka Univetsity seems not to be a model in higher education because it is yet to cope with the change. Many universities in US, UK, Australia and Canada have already experienced a paradigm shift with a new mode of delivery. But unfortunately, in Bangladesh, organisational structures appear to be the biggest impediments to any meaningful change. And that is, usually, the case in academia.

Since public universties are run by the government grants, they do not have any problem with the academic disruption or the closure of academic activities for a brief period. But what will happen to private universities? Their academic programmes are run without any financial support or grants from the government. Rather, they mostly depend on the students' tuition fees. Many universities are now having a financial crunch. Besides, students' academic lives or sessions should not be hampered for a long time. Otherwise, many of them might face problems with mental health.

Amid the present crisis, the universities of Bangladesh should positively shift the focus from basic training on tools to more advanced and time-befitting training incorporating course design, mode of exams and assessment of learning. We, the academics, need to preserve the culture of inevitable change that has swept across the universities over the few weeks. Also, we should institutionalise the culture to respond to the demands of the digital era and face the Covid-19 pandemic very carefully.

Now it is time for the UGC to generate a quick response to the appeal made by the private university authorities and consider withdrawing the recently-issued press release. During the current crisis, all stakeholders in higher education sector need to find a clear and unified goal to help prevent the spread of coronavirus while providing continuity of teaching-learning activities and maintaining social distancing.

To conclude, I would like to make some worthwhile recommendations so that universities can embrace the staff engagement and seize the opportunity to transform the pedagogy in order to meet the needs of students in present or post-pandemic situation.

a) UGC should immediately formulate a clear guideline/ policy on the "online academic activities".

b) UGC should give a considerable amount of grant (as stimulus package) to the universities having financial crises. In this regard, the UGC members should sit to discuss with the Private University Association leaders.

c) UGC should provide the universities with adequate technological support so that they can positively cope with the paradigm shift to keep going.

d) UGC should strictly monitor the financial affairs or management (income from tuition fees, annual budget, expenditures including salaries and development fund) of private universities so that any financial irregularities cannot take place, and fund cannot be misused or misappropriated.

e) UGC should immediately form a high-powered monitoring team to check whether the university authorities give the monthly salaries (on time) to faculty members and non-academic staff.

f) UGC should force the Trustee Boards of the universities to help the vice-chancellors (the academic and administrative chief) work independently and judiciously without any political pressure.

g) UGC should seriously oversee the BoT roles and help the universities to ensure 21st-century quality education for the students and academic freedom with financial security for the academic staff.

h) UGC should seriously review the Private University Act -2010 and make necessary amendments so that the faculty members can get academic freedom with responsibilities and decent financial security to run the programmes smoothly and contribute positively to higher education in Bangladesh.

The writer is Associate Professor and Chair at Department of English, Stamford University Bangladesh. He could be reached a [email protected]