CHENNAI: After a gap of more than eight months, arts and science and professional
colleges across
Tamil Nadu on Wednesday reopened for postgraduate students and research scholars. The state government closed all colleges on March 17 due to
Covid-19 pandemic.
Majority of the colleges in Chennai reported
less attendance on the first day after reopening. Colleges took precautionary measures like checking the temperature at entrance and providing hand sanitizers to the students.
"After a long time, our students -- research scholars, M Phil students and PG students -- have come to our campus. They had a meeting with their research guides. From December 7, we are planning to hold classes in full swing for undergraduate and postgraduate final year students," said S Kothai, principal of Ethiraj College for Women.
Students within Chennai city came on the first day and long-distance students expressed their inability citing lack of transport, she added.
DG Vaishnav College witnessed less than 50% attendance among PG students and research scholars on Day 1.
"We are expecting more students on the campus from December 7 when the college reopens for UG final year students. We are planning to start with value education classes," said S Santhosh Baboo, principal of the college.
The semester exams for the students will start on December 14. "Our college is giving options to the students in attending the classes, and we are not compelling them," he said.
Government colleges asked all staff members to come from Wednesday. However, not many students reported on the first day of reopening.
"We have less students as we asked the postgraduate science students and research scholars to come. Some parents have sent us letters saying they are not willing to send their children to colleges, and some students also said they cannot attend the colleges due to travel issues," a principal of a city government college said.