Statement from Student Councils of Universities Across the Country: Millions of Students are Deprived of Access to Virtual Education

On Tuesday, January 27, 2021, a number of student councils from universities across the country issued a statement addressed to the Minister of Science, Research and Technology. While pointing to issues and problems related to virtual education, such as the deprivation of millions of students from access to quality and equal education, they called for addressing the existing weaknesses in this area and upholding the fundamental right to free education for all these individuals.

Part of this statement reads: “Our question is: after nearly a year of closure of major welfare services in universities and reservation of these budgets, why has no funding been allocated for free internet and student support? Why have reports of students being deprived of virtual education not led to changes in that ministry’s policies? For about a year, students have been left amid their pain and deprivations, and we mourn the news of our friends’ suicides, deaths, or breakdowns.”

According to HRANA news agency, citing the Student Council of the Country, a number of student councils from universities across the country issued a statement calling for the right to quality and free education for students in the country.

It should be noted that HRANA previously, coinciding with the International Day of the Right to Education, published a report examining the status of education and academic affairs and the treatment of activists in this field, including teachers and students, between January 24, 2020 and January 24, 2021.

The full text of this statement is as follows:

In the name of the Almighty

Honored Minister of Science, Research and Technology

Greetings,

The continuation of the coronavirus pandemic crisis has deprived millions of students from access to quality and equal education through virtual learning. According to an announcement by one of the deputies of the Ministry of Education, approximately 5 million students lack the necessary infrastructure or electronic equipment to use virtual education. We still do not have accurate statistics on the population of students deprived of virtual education, but field observations by activists and student councils indicate major deprivations and problems in students’ access to virtual education. Even after a year, there is no specific program for providing free student packages. Electronic platforms provided by universities sometimes suffer from fundamental flaws that make their use impossible. A significant number of students are forced to continue their classes, research, and academic work outside these platforms and at exorbitant costs. This is while during in-person education, internet packages were provided by universities to students for research work at the university. Students face serious problems in obtaining resources for their classes. While there was the possibility of using the library during in-person attendance at the university, now students must choose between paying the cost of obtaining books or losing grades.

Our question is: during nearly a year of closure of major welfare services in universities and reservation of these budgets, why has no funding been allocated for free internet and student support? Why have reports of students being deprived of virtual education not led to changes in that ministry’s policies? For about a year, students have been left amid their pain and deprivations, and we mourn the news of our friends’ suicides, deaths, or breakdowns.

Mr. Ghlamali;

On the eve of the first semester final exams of the current academic year and given the major deprivations and limitations during virtual education, we are witnessing unprecedented severity compared to the period of in-person education. This process has exhausted students’ endurance, and we are facing a wave of despair, anxiety, and anger among our classmates. Hereby, we, the student councils across the country, with warning of the widespread consequences of such irrelevant rules in light of the current crisis situation and recalling the fundamental right to free education, announce our six explicit demands for your immediate follow-up as follows:

1- No dismissal of students for absences throughout the semester given the multiple problems mentioned above.

2- Consideration of alternative activities instead of attendance and class participation grades to prevent the loss of rights of students who have been deprived of attending class for any reason.

3- No assignment of class and exam resources that cannot be provided except by students paying costs.

4- The right to the possibility of dropping a semester without counting towards seniority.

5- Neutralizing academic probation and not including it in academic records.

6- Official recognition of student committees selected by student councils to follow up on the numerous problems in virtual education at the university level and obligating universities to receive and review the opinions of student councils before making decisions related to the next academic semester.

Source: HRANA