DPI’s order to permit fully vaccinated college students in classes draws flak

Our Correspondent

Doraha, October 17

Directions issued by the DPI (Colleges) to adopt offline mode of instructions with immediate effect has left colleges in a fix. As per the DPI instructions, colleges, coaching centres and other institutions of higher learning can remain open subject to the condition that only fully vaccinated or Covid recovered teaching, non-teaching staff and students are allowed to be physically present in classes.

The order has not gone down well with principals, the staff and students of various colleges. The staff, both teaching and non-teaching, is almost fully vaccinated in majority of colleges. As far as students are concerned, most have been partially vaccinated. Their next doze of vaccine is due in November or December or in some cases in January.

When contacted the Principal, AS College, Khanna, Dr RS Jhanji, said, “There are three points on which the order should be rectified with immediate effect. The DPI has mentioned the physical presence of only fully vaccinated students in classes, which is almost next to impossible at least at this stage. Awareness to get vaccinated dawned upon students at a later stage. The staff of colleges fulfils all conditions. In case of students it is just partial fulfillment of conditions.”

“Moreover, colleges cannot force students to get vaccinated. It entirely depends on parents consent. Besides, the order is silent about students, who are below 18 years and not eligible for inoculation,” Dr Jhanji added.

“There is simply no doubt that studies of students have been adversely affected due to the pandemic. So, the order of beginning offline classes is a welcome step in every way, but at the same time the DPI should allow partially vaccinated students to attend classes so that they may begin their studies without any further delay,” said Dr Jhanji.

A final year student of a local college said, “Earlier my parents were reluctant as far as my vaccination was concerned. When majority of students started getting jabbed against Covid they allowed me to get vaccinated. It was just 15 days ago. My second doze of vaccine is due in December end. This means that I will not be able to attend offline classes for this semester.”

“I am in the final year of my bachelors’ course. The current semester is important for me. Technical glitches remain in online mode and the work remains half done. Students, who are partially vaccinated, should be allowed to attend offline classes. Otherwise, their results may be far from satisfactory as they have been taking online exams from the past one and half years,” he added.

A college professor said, “It is a problem for teachers too as they have to teach simultaneously through both modes. Their attention is diverted at both ends. The purpose of making students comfortable with the course gets defeated. Moreover, offline classes have become almost a necessity as students have been sitting at home from the past one-and-a-half semester. They have even forgotten how to read and write. With offline exams ahead, attending classes in person is a must if students want to fare well.”