Although Delhi University has reopened for offline classes, not many students have returned to campus. Even as DU has opened for practical classes, the colleges have not yet taken any decision on opening up hostels. Due to this, many outstation students are unable to return to campus.
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Delhi University opened for practical classes on 1st February for 3rd-year students. However, the usual bustle of students seen at North Campus was missing on the 1st and 2nd days of reopening. The principal of Hindu College, Anju Srivastava said that it was because of the hostels not opening that the attendance was low. She further added- “Moreover, we have set a schedule for students coming for their practicals, so their numbers will be less.”
Not only students but the attendance of teachers remained low. This was because the teachers remain unhappy with the university’s decision which directs all teachers to be physically present at colleges.
Debraj Mookerjee, a professor of the English department at Ramjas College said- “In our college, even the phone network doesn’t work well. The DU notice should have gone for science teachers because they announced that third-year students had to complete their practical classes.”
He further added- “A lot of students in Ramjas are from Kerala and Covid-19 cases are still high there. The entry of students must be planned in a phased manner. At this point, opening hostels is not feasible as unlike St Stephen’s, others don’t have the facility. The administration should have consulted us before passing such orders.”
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A teacher at Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, Amrita Dhawan said- “Currently, we are taking classes from home. If all teachers return to college, the Wi-Fi system will collapse. More than half the parents are not ready to send their children to Delhi as accommodation is not available.”
Even as north campus colleges remained deserted, off-campus colleges, however, saw a relatively larger crowd. It is clear that the university needs better infrastructure to ensure that both offline and online classes can go on smoothly. And the students need to be provided with hostel accommodations so they can return to campus.
