College students eager to resume classes
GEORGE TOWN: The excitement and glimmer in their eyes were evident as students make their way back to colleges and universities after a six-month hiatus.
Culinary arts student Loh Hui Kee, 18, who was back for her practical on campus, said she was happy to finally be able to attend face-to-face classes.
“We have been doing classes online all these while and it feels boring at times.
“Now that we can come back, meet our friends and be there physically for practicals, it really feels great.
“Many of us are happy that we are able to learn in the kitchen again,” she said when met on campus yesterday.
A business management student from Bangladesh, Muhammad Bayejiduzzaman, 22, said he felt energised to attend classes again.
“Personally, I feel that we cannot absorb or learn that much from online classes, so face-to-face classes are definitely better.
“And since the classes are not huge with many students due to the restrictions, I am not that concerned,” he said.
At the UOW Malaysia KDU George Town campus, student service department manager Joey
Phuah said while students have been let back to the college, the campus is retaining online classes for certain courses and subjects.
“We are still running online classes for all students who are taking theory subjects.
“Only those with practical classes are allowed back, such as nursing and culinary as they need to use the kitchen and the lab for learning.
“But even so, we limit the number of students per class for each course,” she said.
Phuah added that for classes with more students, they would be split into two groups and lecturers would conduct classes with each group at a separate time slot.
“This allows us to ensure physical distancing between the students in class because we cannot have the same number of students occupying classes to its capacity.
“All students, however, are welcome back to the campus to make use of all the facilities available,
such as the library, while observing the SOP,” she said.
Phuah also said while most students were eager to return to campus, some were wary of the Covid19 situation and some parents, too, were still concerned.
“In such situations, we allow students to complete their courses fully online.
“If they do not feel safe or secure on campus, we allow them to write in to request for course completion through online classes,” she said.