MYSURU: Authorities said attendance on Day I in Mysuru district stood at around 70% to 80% as scores of grade 9 and I PUC students turned up on school and college campuses on Monday.
The higher-than-expected numbers did cause some concern. Government PU college principals said the PU department did not issue SOPs exclusively for I PUC students and following the 15-20-students per classroom rule to ensure social distancing is difficult as a majority of colleges suffer space constraints.
Both students and principals said the biggest challenge was following social distancing norms, but PU department officials said they did not receive any complaints in this regard.
“The department had asked college principals to follow SOPs it had issued when II PUC students were allowed back on campuses,” a principal said. “This means only 15-20 students per classroom. But, a majority of government colleges lack infrastructure and space. Since both I and II PUC students are back on campus, following guidelines are a problem.”
A principal said if they raise the issue of shortage of classrooms with authorities they are being told to take keys of nearby government schools and hold classes there.
“It’s impossible since there is no written direction,” a principal said. “Other institutions are not cooperating too as all are scared of the pandemic. Our fear is that if a student catches the infection, we will be targeted.”
However, Nagamallesh, deputy-director, PU department, Mysuru, said attendance was good in all colleges. “We did not come across any problems in any college till now,” he said.