Mangaluru: A handful of private undergraduate colleges in the city offering BA, BSc, BBA, BCom and PG courses are mulling to start regular classes, and if all goes well, the classes are likely to commence from November.
However, the classes won’t be held the same way as before, as the college managements have devised plans to maintain social distancing on campus, as well as inside classrooms.
According to the management of private college in Milagres, students from three streams will be requested to come on campus on alternate days. “Each stream will get two days a week on campus. Further, a batch of 100 students will be divided into two,” said a person from a college management. The number of classes will also be increased to five, from the existing four online classes. Apart from it, Saturday will be a full working day.
Sources from St Aloysius College told TOI that the institution is planning its first classes to be held on campus for postgraduate courses. “Based on the success of PG classes, after two weeks, the college is likely to start other undergraduate courses. Currently, all the classes are held online.” The PG final year classes on campus will begin from Monday.
At St Agnes College, they are still following the wait-and-atch policy. Principal Sister M Venissa said that classes are being held online since three months. “We have not yet decided on reopening the college. The decision will be taken only after the government gives a go-ahead and guidelines are issued.”
“The government has given a green signal to start classes on campus from November 1. However, we are yet to receive detailed SOPs. Meanwhile, I have recommended colleges to experiment with a blended approach, both classes on campus and online classes. This will reduce the burden, both on students as well as lecturers,” said P S Yadapadithaya, vice-chancellor, Mangalore University.
Test all staff: Circular
A circular issued by the department of college education on October 12 has asked government and private colleges in the state to test all their teaching and non-teaching staff for the novel coronavirus. The test reports are to be kept for future reference at the college as well as the regional joint director’s office.