MANGALURU: A month after they reopened, private/government colleges under the department of collegiate education that covers three districts — Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu — are showing good numbers in offline classes. Close to 30 per cent of final year UG/PG students attend offline classes every day.
Kodagu tops the list with 58 per cent, followed by Udupi (32 per cent) and Dakshina Kannada (25 per cent). UGC has mandated that only 50 per cent of students attend offline classes and currently more than half the students are coming into class.
SB Appaji Gowda, joint director, collegiate education, Mangaluru, said offline attendance has picked up at a slower pace. It almost doubled compared to last week of November, when it was around 15 per cent. “Offline attendance has improved more than our expectations. There are signs of further improvement as more colleges are likely to invite students to offline classes from January,” he said.
The highest number of students from government colleges attend offline classes compared to their private college counterparts. In Dakshina Kannada, 34 per cent of government college UG/PG students come to campus whereas in private colleges, it is around 22 per cent. Overall, 37.7 per cent government college students attend offline classes against private aided colleges, which is around 24.4 per cent.
Initially, when colleges opened from November 17, the percentage of girl students attending offline classes was high. College managements said male students who had taken up part-time jobs have quit and are attending classes. Apart from final-year students, those from first and second year too attend lab practicals or contact classes.
Due to panchayat elections, offline classes in government colleges are hampered as the majority of faculty have been assigned poll duty.
Meanwhile, classes for first-year post-graduation courses under Mangalore University have commenced from December 14. The course commenced after nearly four months due to the pandemic and delay in announcing UG exam results.