Nagpur: Though the country has witnessed a sharp fall in daily Covid cases, big educational institutes in the city still have no plans to resume physical classes on their campuses. Faculty members have been reporting and holding online classes from their workplace but students are yet to be allowed.
The new academic session for many undergraduate and postgraduate courses would be starting from early January. Institutes like VNIT are in a dilemma over letting students return to campus even if local body and government restrictions are eased.
Against the backdrop of 200 students from IIT-Madras testing positive, VNIT director Pramod Padole said they are worried as it will be difficult to host around 4,000 students though they have adequate infrastructure. “The situation is risky not just here but everywhere. We are a residential institute and don’t know how we can keep Covid under control among 3,000 to 4,000 students. As on date, the new batch will start online on January 4. This is the new normal,” he said.
Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is also occupying a couple of VNIT girls and boys hostel, where it is running a Covid Care Centre (CCC). No patient is right now admitted for nearly a month but the civic administration is keeping the facility on standby in case of a possible second Covid wave.
VNIT has also decided to hold its 18th convocation online later this month.
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Nagpur, which too is running from its temporary campus at VNIT, has been holding online classes for both the batches. IIM-N too is yet to hold its convocation for PGP 2018-20.
Maharashtra National Law University vice chancellor Vijendra Kumar said a meeting of academic council and executive council was held on the issue. “It was decided that it is not possible to start physical classes immediately. We have students from 12 to 13 states and are running from a rented building. In late January, we shall deliberate over starting physical classes again,” he said.
IIIT Nagpur director Omprakash Kakade said they will follow state and local body guidelines, but as of now academic activities are being held online only
Nagpur University’s LIT director Raju Mankar said they are keen on having physical classes. “Our students too are not happy with online mode. We can have staggered classes of 50% online and rest in offline on alternate days. Practicals can’t be taught online,” he said.
NU ProVC Sanjay Dudhe too said all depends on government’s decision. “If permission is granted, we are ready to start physical classes. As of now, all classes are being held online. Many UG courses have already completed their first semester. PG admissions are under process and those batches too will have online classes as on date,” he said.
Government polytechnic and private colleges too are expecting a digital session only for the first batches.