LUDHIANA: The University Grants Commission (UGC) and state government have allowed the opening of colleges from November 16. The decision to resume classes in colleges and universities after eight months was taken by the state home department in consultation with the higher education department. The guidelines have been vetted by the ministry of health and family welfare and approved by the ministry of home affairs and the ministry of education.
City colleges are gearing up for the opening and started sanitising the classes. Sources said vice-chancellor of Panjab University has formed a coordination committee, which is looking into the guidelines of the opening of colleges and would also release calendar of the exams.
Most of the principals said just like schools, attendance will not be compulsory for students, especially those hailing from containment zone.
Ajay Sharma, principal of Shri Aurobindo College of Commerce and Management, said, “We have not received any orders from the university as of now. Meanwhile, we will adopt the UGC guidelines. We have plans to continue online studies for the first and second year and will call final year students with on odd-even basis.”
Deputy director of Guru Nanak Institute Of Management And Technology (GNIMT), Sandhya Mehta said, “We have not yet decided about opening and college authorities will make a decision on Monday about it. The college is affiliated with PTU, the university has not yet issued any directions for affiliated colleges thus we will wait. We have 650 students enrolled with us.”
At the Government College for Girls, a meeting was held by principal of the college Gurpreet Kaur where all the plans and procedures were discussed.
Kaur told TOI, “We would be buying foot-operated hand sanitisers and to check the temperature of students and professors, infra-red thermometers will also be bought.The students will be called on a rotation basis and the online classes will continue. The problem-solving classes will be conducted through small groups.”
She added that the Covid-19 tests for the students staying in the hostels, canteen staff and hostel staff will be taken. “We will also be taking an undertaking from the students staying in hostels. The students will eat the food in their own rooms,” said the principal.
Principal of SCD Government College for Boys, Dharam Singh Sandhu, said, “We will be following all the instructions given by health department and state government. However, there are no university instructions on opening. The classes will be sanitised and only 50% of the students will be called. A different time table will be scheduled for the 3,500 students studying in the hostel.”
On asking whether students are opposing the decision, he said, “ The students are very, much excited to visit the college. We have are 3,800 students in morning session and 800 students studying in the evening session.”
A meeting is scheduled for the professors, at SCD on Monday to decide on hostels, canteen and library.
Savita Uppal, principal of Arya College, said, “There are no instructions from university, but we are making arrangements by sanitising the classes. We have about 2,500 students and they will be called on odd-even basis.”
She also said masks and sanitisers will be provided to the students. “A general meeting was held with the staff on Saturday where more plans were discussed about the opening of canteens. We will open canteen depending upon the strength of students.”