New Delhi: Colleges and universities are set to reopen in Karnataka and Gujarat by November 23 and December 1 respectively, in adherence to COVID-19 guidelines issued by the central and state governments and the SOP by UGC, reported India Today.
According to an announcement by Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar, state’s Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences-affiliated medical and paramedical colleges will be reopening from December 1 in a phased manner, and degree colleges resuming from November 17.
“The Karnataka government has decided to re-open all the medical, dental, AYUSH, paramedical, nursing and pharmacy colleges affiliated to RGUHS from December 1. I request the administration of colleges and students to strictly adhere to the guidelines issued by the government,” tweeted the minister.
Karnataka Government has decided to reopen all the medical, dental,AYUSH, paramedical, nursing and pharmacy colleges affiliated to RGUHS from 1st December. I request the administration of colleges & students 2 strictly adhere to the guidelines issued by the government.@VCRguhs
— Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) November 13, 2020
In Gujarat, reopening of schools for classes IX to XII, and all postgraduate, PhD, M Phil, medical and paramedical courses in colleges from November 23 was announced by the state education department, and a government resolution on guidelines for the same was also issued by the state education department.
Gujarat Govt announces the reopening of classes 9 to 12 in schools and all the colleges and universities across the state after Diwali from November 23 as per the Standard Operating Protocol issued by the Central Govt. pic.twitter.com/ID1ysR1Rk9
— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) November 11, 2020
The guidelines stated attendance to be non-mandatory, only one student per room if hostel facilities were resumed, no more than 50 per cent of the total students present at any point of time, and requirement of a consent letter from parents of students wishing to attend offline classes.
Stating the classes to be either divided into two equal halves or in three sections of one-third strength in each, the notification stated that, “One batch of students will be called for three days while the other groups for the remaining three days.”
The guidelines allowed the extension of teaching hours, with phase wise conduction of classes while observing social distancing, and provisions for online study for international students unable to attend offline classes due to “international travel restrictions or visa-related issues.”