Don’t resume college offline classes until all students fully vaccinated: NSUI

NT NETWORK

Panaji

The National Students Union of India, Goa has asked the government not to resume offline classes in colleges until all the students are fully vaccinated and closed circuit television cameras installed at all public places.

NSUI, Goa has further condemned the decision of the government to lift restrictions imposed on educational institutions for conducting classes in
physical mode.

The NSUI, Goa president, Naushad Chowdhari addressing a press conference held at the Congress House on Thursday claimed that an August 16 circular issued by the directorate of higher education has created a sense of fear among students, just as the world is still reeling under corona pandemic.

“In July, when the DHS had issued a circular that it was contemplating starting classes in physical mode, we had objected to it since students are not vaccinated yet,” Chowdhari said, pointing out, “We had also demanded that the government organise special vaccination camps in the colleges only after which offline classes could
commence.”

He said that while no such camps have been held so far, the NSUI now questions government’s seriousness about ensuring safety of students against the pandemic.

“This government is expert in conducting surveys and we demand that a related survey in each college be conducted as it would give a better picture of who is vaccinated and who is not,” the NSUI, Goa president stated, noting that offline classes should resume after the entire student community is 100 per cent vaccinated.”

The NSUI, Goa demanded that on the lines with the government’s proposal to the Centre to reduce the gap between two jabs for teaching as well as non-teaching community, it should also be extended to students as well. “The only hope against COVID-19 is vaccination, especially at a time when the daily cases in Goa are still fluctuating, and unless the graph of daily cases is stable, no physical classes should be held without vaccination,” it added.

Furthermore, NSUI, Goa demanded that in the wake of a spate of crimes against women and minors taking place in the state, installation of CCTV surveillance across all public places
is a must.

“The students should feel safe in the midst of so many crimes taking place in the state, especially as many students change buses to reach their schools/ colleges,” the students’ organisation observed, demanding that however, the scenario in Goa is not conducive, especially as a body of a girl was recently found at Calangute, and therefore, the government should put up CCTVs at prime places.