LSE cancels classes due to coronavirus

London School of Economics will ‘deliver all teaching for undergraduate and postgraduate students’ online from Monday 23rd March for the rest of the academic year.

LSE campus and halls of residences, however, will continue to remain open for this time.

An LSE spokesperson told The Tab King’s:  “From Monday 23 March LSE will deliver all teaching for undergraduate and postgraduate students online.

‘This will be in place for the rest of the academic year. Taught exams and assessments scheduled later this year will also be delivered online.

“These actions are taken as a precaution and to provide clarity and reassurance to the LSE community in exceptional circumstances.

“The LSE campus and halls of residence will remain open. Guidance from Public Health England maintains that there is presently low risk for LSE and that buildings, services and facilities can run as usual.

“We will take any additional necessary steps, such as a campus closure if we are advised to do so in the future.”

The action comes into place after the virus was declared a pandemic yesterday, with the number of people with coronavirus in the U.K. rising to 596.

A post-grad LSE student Theresa told The Tab King’s: “There have been rumours about closure for next week already but that the LSE had to prepare for a potential closure like purchase a zoom license etc., and they were trying to buy time a bit.

“So I’m surprised that its only from the 23rd. Until today teachers didn’t know what was happening and literally an hour ago our prof said LSE will act in line with government requirements.”

King’s College London has also put in place procedures due to the coronavirus risk – this includes cancelling of traditional exams in April and May.

King’s will continue to hold lecturers, however, despite the online petition to make all classes online.

Feature Image: SWNS stock image

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