UGC issues guidelines on reopening colleges and universities, in line with the process of gradually opening the lockdown enforced due to the ongoing pandemic.
The guidelines have been vetted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Education.
गृह मंत्रालय द्वारा COVID-19 महामारी के कारण लगे लॉकडाउन को धीरे-धीरे खोलने की प्रक्रिया के अनुरूप विश्वविद्यालयों और कॉलेजों को फिर से खोलने के लिए यूजीसी विस्तृत दिशानिर्देश जारी कर रहा है। @ugc_india @PIB_India @EduMinOfIndia @DDNewsHindi @HMOIndia @MoHFW_INDIA pic.twitter.com/CBtqPw5GK0
— Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) November 5, 2020
WHAT DO THE GUIDELINES SAY? | UGC ISSUES GUIDELINES ON REOPENING COLLEGES
UGC issues guidelines on reopening colleges and universities outside the containment zone in a sequential manner. But after consultation with the respective State/UT governments.
UGC suggests six-day weeks, smaller class-sizes to enable social distancing. However, teaching hours in a day may get an extension, as per the institution’s requirements.
The institutions need to ensure that “before reopening of any campus, the Central or the concerned State Government must have declared the area safe for reopening of educational institutions. The directions, instructions, guidelines, and orders issued by the Central and State Government concerned regarding safety and health in view of COVID-19 must be fully abided by the higher education institutions.”
In addition, all the institutions must be ready to handle the inflow of students, faculty and staff in the campus. Campuses must comply with monitoring disinfecting measures, screening and detecting the infected persons, containment measures to prevent the spread of the virus in the campus.
FINAL YEAR STUDENTS AND E-RESOURCES
Students of post-graduate students pursuing an interdisciplinary of science and technology can come to the institution. This implies to all research programs as the number of students studying at the post-graduation level is less. Moreover, the final year batch may also join for academic and placement purposes.
The institutions have to provide online study material to such students who prefer to study online. For international students who could not join due to international travel restrictions, e-teaching-learning arrangements need to be made.
Read here | NOTIFICATION REGARDING EXAMS RELEASED BY DU
HOSTELS | UGC ISSUES GUIDELINES ON REOPENING COLLEGES
“Hostels may be opened only in such cases where it is necessary while strictly observing the safety and health preventive measures. However, the sharing of rooms may not be allowed in hostels. Symptomatic students cannot stay in the hostels under any circumstances”, read the statement.
For further information, read the official notice here.
