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16 / Coronavirus Special

time to spot all differences in ques-
tions,” he says.
Ho suggests that measures could
be implemented for future online
examinations. “For example, exami-
nations could be held in a central-
ised manner at a fixed time, similar
to conventional exams. Stricter reg-
ulations (like making multiple ques-
tion sets) can also be enforced so that
students are further discouraged to
attempt cheating,” Ho says.
Results of the Survey on the Arrangements of Tuition Fees During Class Suspension
Calls for Refunds by the Student Union of CUHK (Source: Student Union of CUHK)
Apart from technical concerns ingless to me,” Anne explains. on fee refunds but postpones the
regarding the operation of online According to a survey conducted due date for tuition fees to April 30.
teaching, another major issue lies in by the Student Union of CUHK in Johnny Tam, the Public Relations
tuition fees. February, 98 per cent out of 5,670 and Media Manager of HKUST, says
Anne, a Taiwanese who refuses undergraduates said that at least a tuition fees will stay the same as
to disclose her real name, is a Year part of the second term tuition fees classes are conducted by the same
1 Biomedical Sciences student at should be refunded. Nearly 95 per professors.
CUHK. She believes fee adjustment cent responded they deserved a full
or relevant explanation is necessary. or partial refund for the first term tu- Save Time, Save Money
“A reasonable amount of refunds ition fees. HKUST Students’ Union There are, on the other hand,
has to be considered. We need an ex- has also submitted a petition for a 60 students who prefer online teach-
planation if the school decides not per cent refund. ing. Yvonne Leung is a local stu-
to give a refund,” says Anne. “My At public universities in Hong dent of CUHK who live is Siu Sai-
practical classes are heavily affected. Kong, tuition fee for local students Wan. She used to spend about three
Lab courses are all cancelled. Some- is about HK$ 42,100 (US$ 5,400) per hours per day to commute to school
times, my professor presents with a year, for non-locals the fee ranges by bus and MTR. Despite occasional
skeleton model, but I can hardly see from HK$ 140,000 to HK$ 171,000 unstable internet connection, she
it through the camera.” (US$ 18,000 - 22,000). appreciates the advantage of taking
Her first year of university has Registration and Examinations online classes – saving money on
been rough. The university cancelled Section of CUHK makes no remarks travels. “I think online teaching is
most of the classes about three weeks
earlier than the schedule, in the first
term. They emptied the campus and
advised staff and students not to re-
turn until the campus environment
was confirmed safe and restored.
The school now replaces face-to-face
classes with virtual ones due to the
current pandemic.
“I know it’s not the school’s fault
for what happened in the first term,
but I lost those remaining classes.
We do not only care about grades
but also the learning outcomes. The
present class suspension and what
happened in the last term make it
(studying in Hong Kong) a bit mean- Anne, a Taiwanese student, attending an online lecture (Photo courtesy of Anne)