Kolkata: A day after announcing that Classes IX-XII will open from February 12, West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee has announced that colleges and universities will remain closed for now and students will continue with online classes.
The minister said this after a closed-door meeting with the vice-chancellors of all the universities in the state on Wednesday evening.
In accordance with the protocols for the COVID-19 pandemic, hostels cannot be opened for and that is why physical classes in colleges will remain suspended, he said.
“Now everyone is comfortable with the online classes so the ongoing semesters will be conducted online which will be over by March-end. Several vice-chancellors said that hostels cannot be opened for which several students cannot attend offline classes. However, offices will be open for assistance to students and their parents,” Chatterjee said.
The minister also informed that the Education Department will soon start a review process for all universities in Bengal.
On February 2, Chatterjee had said that the state government was planning to reopen government schools from February 12 with strict adherence to the pandemic norms.
“Class timings and routine will be decided by the school authorities. We will scrutinize them. Following all regulations of the ongoing pandemic, we are planning to open the schools from Class IX to class XII mainly as the science students are facing problems in holding practical classes. The board exams are scheduled in June and if they don’t hold practical classes then it will be a problem for the students,” Chatterjee had said.
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