Combating the impact of COVID- 19 on Public University Students through Subsidized Online Class: Evidence from Bangladesh

Abstract

We strived to explore the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on public university students with barriers to the online class through surveyed 1092 students of 15 public universities in Bangladesh using Google Form. Eight barriers were explored. About half, 542(49.6%) students shouldered learning-related costs, 489(45%) students had part time job, 461(42.2%) had COVID-19 patients nearby, 805(73.7%) faced income reduction, 367(75.2%) lost part-time jobs and 688 (63%) had financial crises, 703(64.3%) deterioration of psychological status,  827(75.7 %) had internet access and 526(48.2%) had devices to attend online classes but 519 (47.5%) failed to bear the internet cost.  Besides, the study time reduced significantly from (3.67±2.17) to (1.23±1.34) hours, and career planning of 853(78.2%) struck. COVID-19 has multiple catastrophic impacts on the educational, financial, and psychological aspects. To curb these impacts, public universities must provide financial subsidies to those disadvantaged students to ensure the success of the online class.

Keywords: Covid-19, Education, Public University, Financial crisis, Online Class, Subsidy

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-27-17

Publication date:September 30^th 2020