Degree Colleges, Universities In Odisha To Reopen On January 11; Check Physical Classroom Guidelines

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government announced on Sunday that the all degree colleges and universities in Odisha will reopen on January 11.

However, the degree colleges and universities will be reopened only for those students who are set to appear for the last semester examinations, a notification by the Higher Education Department said.

“The State Public Universities and Government as well as Non-Government Degree Colleges (coming under H.E. Department) are hereby directed to commence physical classroom teaching for students of 2020-21 Final Year UG/PG courses from 11-01-2021(Monday),” a Higher Education Department notification said on Sunday.

Guidelines for Physical Classroom Teaching:

1) Physical classes shall be held in regular manner to cover all chapters of the syllabus irrespective of coverage of some chapters by online mode.

2) Whenever possible, the physical classroom teaching shall be recorded and shared with students who were absent.

3) The following COVID-19 Prevention Protocols shall be followed:

a. Teachers/Staff/Students residing in active containment zone shall not come to Universities/ Colleges.

b. Face Mask/ Face Cover shall be mandatory.

c. Frequent Hand Wash/ Hand sanitization shall be ensured.

d. Social Distancing (6 ft. distance) shall be adopted in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, etc. If need be, crowded classes can be divided into batches and teaching hours in a day can be extended.

e. Spitting shall be strictly prohibited.

f. Respiratory etiquettes shall be strictly followed. (i.e Covering one’s mouth and nose by handkerchief while coughing/sneezing)

4) Hostels shall be opened from 10-01-2021 only for 2020-21 Final Year UG/ PG students as well as PhD, M.Phil and other Research Scholars. All possible Covid-19 prevention protocols shall be followed in hostels.

5) 25 per cent of the syllabus shall be covered by Guided Students Self Study as per the guideline issued by the Department.

6) To compensate the lost days, physical classroom teaching shall be conducted on all days except the Examination Period, Sundays, 26th January 2021 (Republic Day), 16th February 2021 (Saraswati Puja) and 1st April 2021 (Utkal Divas). To this extent, the Common Holiday List-2021, communicated to all Degree Colleges by the Department is hereby superseded.

7) In addition to the commencement of physical classroom teaching for 2020-21 Final Year UG/PG courses, teaching and research activities of PhD, M.Phil and other Research Scholars shall also commence in physical mode w.e.f. 11.01.2021.

8) State Private Universities (under H.E. Department) may also consider to commence physical classroom teaching of Final Year UG/PG courses w.e.f. 11-01-2021 by following this guideline to the extent applicable.

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