KUALA LUMPUR:Online teaching and learning (PdP) is a safe way for students at institutions of higher learning to continue with their studies, while avoiding the COVID-19 transmission, said Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohammad Shatar Sabran.

He said the learning process has to continue, with the assessment conducted through online learning.

“Although it is not as good as face-to-face learning, this is the only safe way to avoid the infection.

“Knowledge can not necessarily be acquired in classrooms because knowledge can be translated into a two-way online communication as a proactive partnership and at the same time ensuring one’s safety,” he said in a statement today.

Mohammad Shatar, who is also chairman of the council of vice-chancellors and rector of Malaysian public universities, said it could also be used in research as research schedules and methods will be more flexible.

He hoped that all students of public institutions of higher learning could persevere in facing the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and for the lecturers to be tolerant and understand the problem on Internet access, especially for students staying in the rural or remote areas.

-- BERNAMA