A feasibility study of online classes in Bangladesh to counteract potential study gaps caused by COVID -19 related lockdowns

Abstract

Due to the COVID-19-related lockdowns, university students in Bangladesh are at risk of losing months or entire semesters. Online learning can be a potential solution to this problem. Such online learning requires facilities and infrastructure at the universities, a robust data infrastructure at the national level, and adequate computing devices and sufficient and affordable data services for the students. This study is one of the first in Bangladesh that attempts to gauge the need and readiness of various stakeholders to implement successful online education. This paper reveals that universities may not be ready for online education and that a digital divide exists that may online education inaccessible to a significant number of students.