The guidelines released by the University Grant Commission (UGC) directed higher education institutes in the country not to have more than 50% of the total students at a given time.
New Delhi: Colleges and universities in India might soon be starting with certain rules and regulations. The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Thursday has released guidelines for reopening of colleges and universities in India. The guidelines will impact all those higher education institutions that are outside containment zones. These institutes will reopen phase-wise — starting with research classes, masters and final-year undergraduate students. However, the UGC has directed colleges and universities not to have more than 50% of students at a given time.
Amid the Covid-19 lockdown, all higher education institutes and schools have been closed across the country since March 16. Although various colleges have started online classes, Students and parents have been demanding reopening of schools and colleges. In this bid, Punjab government has announced reopening of universities and colleges from November 16.
UGC has directed to follow all standard precautions of Covid-19, including disinfecting college and university campuses properly. The official statement released by UGC reads, “Six-day schedule may be followed so that classes can be conducted in phases and the seating arrangement be made keeping in view the requirements of physical distancing. Universities and colleges may consider reducing the class size and break them in multiple sections to maintain physical distancing during the classes.”
Hostels in residential campuses can be opened only “where it is necessary”. UGC has strictly forbidden the idea of sharing of rooms. Also, all colleges and universities must have isolation facilities for symptomatic people. Having quarantine halls is also necessary for all campuses, and for that institute managements must tie-up with government hospitals or approved premises.
The guidelines state, “Proper arrangement of safety, health, food, water etc. should be ensured for those in quarantine and isolation facilities.”
According to the UGC guidelines, all Institutions have to provide online study material and access to online mode of education to such students who opt to study staying at home. For international students also, institutions should make online teaching-learning arrangements assessible, since they could not attend classes due to international travel restrictions.