St Stephen’s is the only college in Delhi University to open hostels to students of all years. Over 150 students have already returned to the hostels. While other DU colleges have reopened for 3rd-year students for practical classes, they are yet to take a decision on reopening colleges for all.
At St Stephen’s, since January 10th, students have been allowed to enter in batches. As per the Times of India, about 70% of the students who’ve come to campus are 1st-year students. The bursar of the college, Renish Abraham said-
“Students of any year willing to come back have been allowed. They are coming back in batches.”
Most of the students who’ve returned to campus were facing connectivity issues back home. Many others just couldn’t wait any longer than they already had to start/get back to their bustling college life.
Although colleges have been reopened, proper precautions are been taken to ensure the safety of the students. Two out of the 6 college residences have been converted to quarantine centers. A six days quarantine period has been made mandatory for any students coming back to campus, earlier this period was 14 days.
In addition to that, each residence which earlier used to be occupied by 66 students is now allowed to be accommodated by only 42 students. Movements of students’ outside college have also been restricted. An isolation center has also been set up with all rooms converted to single occupancy.
Quoting from The Times Of India, one of the 2nd year student who had returned to college said- “We were all made to quarantine in one block, one room assigned to each student. We weren’t allowed to go into each other’s rooms and honestly, that one week’s period was quite depressing. Pre-Covid, we used to go to the mess hall to have meals, but during the quarantine, we used to get food at our doorsteps.”
Also Read: Commencement Of Offline Classes: DU Edition!
https://duexpress.in/the-commencement-of-offline-classes/
