Mumbai, 24 June 2020:  Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, an Institute of National Importance, has become the first major educational institute in the country to stop physical classes next semester amid COVID 19 pandemic.

In an announcement, Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, Director of IIT Bombay,   said “After a long deliberation in the Senate meeting today , we have decided today that the next semester will be run purely in the online mode so that there is no compromise on the safety and well being of the students.”

Hence, there will be only virtual classes for the upcoming semester for all students. This is the first time in the institute’s 62-year old history that a new academic year will start with no students on campus.

The Director in a Facebook post mentioned “The COVID Pandemic has made us at IIT Bombay rethink the way we impart education to our students. To ensure that our students begin the academic year without further delay, we are planning on extensive online classes details of which will be informed to all students in due course of time.”

The director appealed “However, a large section of our students come from economically less privileged families and would require a helping hand to equip them with the IT hardware (i.e. laptops and broadband connectivity ) to take these online classes.”

“We have estimated that we need about Rs 5 crores to help those needy students. Our alumni have committed a good amount of support, but that is not enough for all these needy students and I solicit through this message your donations, however small it may be. I am sure that these beneficiaries ofyour philanthropy will in future contribute significantly to the growth of our Nation” he added.

It appears that all IITs may follow the similar approach for going virtual classes for the upcoming semester considering Corona Pandemic.