Online classes valid, med body clears air
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:03.10.2020
The National Medical Commission which has replaced Medical Council of India (MCI) has clarified that online classes conducted for medical courses in view of the pandemic are valid and approved by the commission.
The commission made the clarification in response to media reports that MCI has informed a group of medical students that such classes are not valid. “It is clarified that in view of the pandemic medical colleges are conducting online theory classes for MBBS students. Online classes are valid and are approved for teaching during the pandemic only," a statement released by the commission said.
Such online theory classes are required to be supplemented by practical and clinical training as per the current curriculum in all MBBS subjects when the colleges are reopened, it added.
It further clarified that the media reports appeared to have relied upon reply given by the erstwhile MCI in response to a RTI query regarding medical courses conducted by foreign universities through online medium only.
On September 28, a group of medical students who approached the Madras high court seeking wavier in fee due to lockdown informed the court that the MCI has informed them that such classes are not recognised.
Informing the Madras high court about the stand of the MCI, senior advocate R Vaigai representing the students said, “The MCI has informed the students that it does not recognise online teaching for medical courses. Students are worried about their future now.”
Vaigai made the submission on the batch of pleas moved by parents of medical students of SRM challenging the college’s demand to pay full fee even for the lockdown period.
Recording the submission, Justice N Anand Venkatesh said, if the MCI is not going to recognise online classes, then the whole point in conducting such classes goes.The court then directed the MCI to clarify its stand by October 5.
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