College reopening in offline mode from 15 Feb: Minister Uday Samant

College reopening in offline mode from 15 Feb: Minister Uday Samant

Admin Enggsolution | 2021-02-03
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Colleges in Maharashtra will reopen from February 15 with 50 percent percent of the total capacity following COVID-19 guidelines said Uday Samant, State Higher and Technical Education Minister said today.

The rule of minimum 75% attendance to be waived off for this year: Uday Samant, Higher and Technical Education Minister of Maharashtra.

Earlier, Samant had said that the government would soon announce its decision regarding the reopening of colleges in the state in a day or two.

The colleges in Maharashtra, along with all the other educational institutes in the state, were shut down in March 2020 in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was expected to sign off on the date for colleges reopening after the discussion conducted on February 1 with the Vice Chancellors.

The government will soon issue a list of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to all colleges and universities in the state for reopening.

Even if college campuses will reopen from 15 feb , Online lectures will also be continued , also outstation students are allowed to stay at hostel.The final exams will be conducted in online as well as offline mode.

Tentative guidelines for campus reopenings :

What are the safety measures that should be kept in mind at all times by the institutes during working hours, at entry and exit points of campuses and inside the campus?
-1) Arrangement for thermal scanners, sanitisers, face masks should be made available at every entry/exit point
-2) Crowding must be avoided, to ensure queue management markings must be made on the floor
-3) Those having symptoms should not be allowed on campus
-4) Proper and regular sanitisation of classrooms, labs, common spaces, parking areas and so on
-5) At least one seat should be left vacant between two seats with proper markings inside classrooms
-6) Cultural activities, meetings to be avoided, however, sports and extra-curricular may be allowed where physical distancing is feasible
-7) Hostels to be opened only when necessary with safety measures
-8) Regular monitoring of the health of students, faculty and staf

What are the safety measures educational institutes across the country should Have to take have to follow and implement before they re-open for full-fledged academic activities?
-1) Physical distance of at least six feet to be followed when feasible
-2) Use of face masks mandatory
-3) Use of hand sanitisers and frequent handwashing is advised
-4) Respiratory etiquettes like covering nose and mouth while coughing, sneezing to be practised
-5) Self-monitoring of health and reporting any discomfort at the earliest is of utmost importance
-6) Spitting is strictly prohibited
-7) Installation of the Aarogya Setu app shall be advised

What will students do if they are staying at hostels?
-1) Students might have to wait before they can finally stay at hostels on campus.
-2) Hostels may be opened only in cases where it is necessary while strictly observing the safety and health preventive measures, the UGC said. “However, the sharing of rooms may not be allowed in hostels. Symptomatic students should not be permitted to stay in the hostels under any circumstances,” the recent guidelines added.

What role do students have to play in following safety measures?
-1) Self-discipline is most important to contain the spread of COVID-19 through social distancing and maintaining hygienic condition.
-2) All students should wear face covers/ masks
-3) It is important for the students to be physically and mentally fit to handle any exigencies

-4) The students must inculcate activities that will increase immunity-boosting mechanism which may include exercise, yoga, eating fresh fruits and healthy food (avoid fast food), sleep on time.
-5) Discrimination of fellow students who have a history of COVID-19 in the family to be avoided
-6) Provide support to friends under stress due to COVID-19 pandemic.

What about study tours, fieldwork, and cultural activities?

Things may not be the same for quite some time for college and university students. “Universities and colleges should prepare a policy for restricting the outside experts on campuses, study tours, field works, etc, keeping in mind the COVID-19 situation,” reads the guidelines.

What will institutions do to keep the central government informed about the condition of campuses?
The UGC guidelines stated that the state and central governments should keep regular contact with the institutions to gain information regarding the condition on campuses and also call online meetings with the head of the institutes whenever deemed fit.

What about re-opening auditoriums, seminar halls?
“Ensure the norms of physical distancing, sanitisation and hygienic conditions for use of common facilities — auditorium, conference or seminar halls, sports, gymnasium, canteen, parking area,” it reads.

Do sports fall under restricted activities?
In what may seem like a relief, sporting activities are exempted from the restriction. “Such extracurricular and sports activities may be allowed where physical distancing is feasible and is in accordance with the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines, issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 from time to time,” reads the UGC guidelines.

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