Ranchi: Almost 11 months after the lockdown was announced to curb the spread of Covid-19, Central University of Jharkhand (CUJ) has decided to resume offline classes in a phased manner in the coming days, a university official said. Professor Manoj Kumar said physical classes on the university campus were already taking place for experiment-oriented research works and the university has decided to open its hostel for research scholars from February 15.
He said, “We will monitor the situation for some time and, if the Covid situation is conducive, resume offline practical classes for other post-graduate students. The classes will be operated as per the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines issued recently. As of now, white-washing and sanitization of the university building is in progress.”
Meanwhile, officials at other universities in Jharkhand said they are prepared to restart offline classes and are awaiting the directions of the state government in this regard. Speaking on the UGC guidelines, Ranchi University Vice-chancellor Ramesh Pandey said the varsity is prepared to start classes as per the direction of the Governor and the state government. He said, “Our institution recently conducted offline examinations for thousands of students. The university has the expertise to manage a large number of students and ensure Covid prevention norms like masking, distancing and use of sanitizers are followed.”
Pandey, however, said the Chancellor (the Governor) and the state government will issue directions on which provision of the UGC guidelines is to be implemented and in what manner. He added that two colleges affiliated to the university were earlier issued show-cause notices for violation of Covid norms.
S N Munda, Vice-chancellor of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, said his university is already carrying out teaching through both offline and online modes. He said, “Students of several subjects are studying informally through offline mode while following the rules to prevent the spread of Covid. Some subjects are being taught at different times of the days in order to prevent overcrowding on the campus. We have the confidence to restart full-fledged offline courses if the state government permits us.”
In special guidelines for higher education institutes, UGC said attending physical classes will not be mandatory and UGC has asked institutions to have a plan ready for such international or Indian students who could not join the physical campuses. Preference will be given to students of all research programmes and postgraduate students in science and technology programmes. For the rest of the streams, and foreign students, online classes will continue.
Universities or college campuses will not have more than 50% students at any given time and teaching hours could be extended. It also reduced field trips and outside college activities. UGC has asked colleges to mandate regular visits of a counsellor to ensure mental wellness and stress-free campuses. Universities and colleges have also been asked to restrict the number of outside experts on campuses, study tours, field works etc. It should be made mandatory for the teachers, officers, staff and students to wear identity cards and use of Aarogya Setu app should be encouraged among them.
Only universities and colleges outside the containment zones will be allowed to re-open. Further, students and staff living in these areas will not be allowed to attend the colleges. Students and staff shall also be advised not to visit areas falling within containment zones, as per the guidelines. For those who have tested positive, isolation facilities should be in place either on campus itself or as a prior arrangement with some nearby hospital(s) Isolation facilities for symptomatic persons and quarantine facilities for those who were in contact with the positively tested persons should be there, as per guidelines.