Fear of digital security laws dull online class

Although several private universities have been offering online classes for a long time, public universities have recently officially started offering online classes. We all know the reality of more or less public university students. Many do not have a smartphone, do not have money to buy data, there is no electricity in the area, the condition of the network is not very good and so on. Many of us have started online classes with that reality in mind and how to deal with it in a minimal way. Many of the students are participating in online classes by going to the roof, climbing trees, climbing haors, huts or going to the hat bazaar. Some are arguing that the university has been closed for fear of corona, but now that they have to go to the market for classes, isn't there a risk of corona infection from there? Those who are able to join, they also have various problems. Even in class, students and teachers are all going offline and online. Some are heard, some are not.

We assume that the main goal of this online class is to keep the morale of the students and to stay with some study. But keep in mind that if we can't get all the students online equally and continue with only those who can afford it, it will only make the ongoing inequality in education more apparent. In addition, it will create a kind of frustration in the minds of indigent students. It goes without saying that they will fall behind if this continues. However, despite a lot of writing on this subject, so far no action has been taken by public universities in using free data of students to participate in classes. Although the university did not reveal the solution in this regard, the students are communicating with the teachers related to the course with some suggestions. For those who are unable to come online, they are requesting teachers to capture and upload the class lecture on camera. They should be able to listen later according to their ability.

This is the problem of many students. But many teachers say there are other fears. Teachers of the social sciences in particular have mentioned this panic in various discussions, online meetings. They are also worried about whether they will be able to give lectures freely and freely. This panic has been exacerbated by the continued misapplication of the Digital Security Act. Expressing concern, some say the lecture may go viral on Facebook. Various types of politics will continue. Now the question may be, when there were classes in the classroom, weren't such fears among the teachers? Surely there was. But then there would be no video record of any more words.


But fears have now grown because two teachers have recently been arrested in two public universities for enforcing the law. In the case of a temporary dismissal. Another university authority has enforced the law for students. So there is a fundamental question in taking this online class: in this case, the freedom of teachers to express their own opinions, the freedom to create a mindset of epistemological debate among students?

Why are the teachers of the Faculty of Social Sciences more worried about this issue? Because, most of the social science subjects work with society, state, social institutions. Dissent, diversity and discussion-criticism are encouraged there. There are discussions about individual, state-society, religion, politics, culture, gender, sexuality, organization and various other issues, conflicts. No one can agree with anyone's opinion on these issues. Ideological debates can also be created with the dominant ideology of the state on various issues. Argumentation is the greatest beauty of social discipline. There are various differences of opinion in all ages regarding logic, many do not match with many, do not match.

That is why the university is different. Its concept is different, its history is different. Teaching is no longer like ten professions. Teaching is a responsibility. Teachers ’job is not just to take classes or look at exam books; The student-teacher relationship is involved in everything from students' analytical abilities, research skills and mindset building, to their rights and disadvantages. That relationship is also reflected in teaching.

And even in that teaching, if both parties are uncomfortable, scared, terrified, it will have an effect on the quality of teaching as well. Even in the realm of knowledge and science, if the saw of digital security law is always sharp, then the basic concept of education in the university will change. So when teachers feel numb or panicked even in the online class for this fear, it seems as if we are stuck somewhere. Our psyche is not free. We are scared. Fear of lawsuits, fear of social harassment, fear of threats, then fear of losing a job. If I can't speak fearlessly in front of students, or if students can't ask questions because of fear, then what is the need for university education? So the state should repeal the digital security law and keep everyone free from the culture of fear.

* Zobaida Nasreen: Teacher, Department of Anthropology, Dhaka University