A lot of colleges and higher educational institutions have taken the decision to resume with the offline classes as the COVID-19 cases are on a steady decline across the country. The Delhi University (DU) administration has issued a similar decision regarding reopening colleges.
The University of Delhi will resume classes in offline mode from today, September 15. Offline classes on campus will resume after being shut down for over 1.5 years.
Colleges, departments and centres will reopen for practical classes for the students of final year undergraduate and postgraduate courses. However, theory classes will continue to be held online. Moreover, attendance at the offline practical classes will not be mandatory.
A list of detailed COVID guidelines has been issued by the University administration. In order to maintain a safe environment during offline classes, all the guidelines should be adhered strictly.
To read about the mode of examination after the University opens, click here.
Guidelines Issued by the University:
- Offline classes are only resuming for final year UG and PG students, and will only be allowed to attend practical classes and use the library.
- DU will reopen with only 50 per cent capacity of students. Attendance in physical classes is optional and students still reserve the option of attending online classes from home.
- Only those practical classes will be conducted by DU, which is essential for the upcoming semester.
- Students who will attend the offline classes should have received at least one dosage of the Covid-19 vaccine. However, the students who are planning to reside in the hostel must have received both the dosages.
- Both teaching and non-teaching staff attending the classes should also be fully vaccinated.
- For the time being, the theory classes for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in DU will be conducted online.
- The concerned departments will be issuing slots to students if they wish to visit the college library.
What do the principals have to say?
The College principals stated that they are expecting a fewer number of students on Wednesday. This is because a majority of those who are from outside Delhi won’t be able to make it.
“We have posted the Google form for parents’ consent. We are doing theory classes online and practical classes offline, which is why many might not have said yes for coming to college,” said Dr. Anju Srivastava, Principal of Hindu College. She said that they will have quite a manageable number of students.
“For instance, if we have 25 students, we will split them into groups of two. This means we won’t have more than 12-15 students in a big lab. And, not more than 8-10 students in a small lab,” she added.
Professor Balaram Pani, Dean of Colleges of Delhi University and the Principal of Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, said, that a considerable amount students from Delhi are expected to come. Students outside Delhi may come but they would face the problem of finding accommodation. “We will see the turnout and then decide on the feasibility of holding physical classes. The libraries have been opened and we will see the library footfall and that would give us a rough idea on how many students are coming to colleges for issuing of books,” he said.
Dr. Rajesh Giri, principal of Rajdhani College stated, “In case they have not received even a single dose of coronavirus vaccine, we will guide them to nearby Shivaji College where the vaccines are being administered. There are sanitising machines inside the college and we have also got gloves and masks for students who might have forgotten them. We are fully geared up and have made a task force for reopening of the college.”
