Colleges and Universities all across India have been closed since mid-March 2020 due to the fear of the pandemic. In early February, The University Grants Commission proposed rules for students to return to colleges after a year-long period of vacation and online classes. The Union government had allowed students to return to schools, colleges, and universities in different stages after October 15, contingent upon the local circumstance. But, it was ultimately up to states to reopen their schools and colleges.
On February 4, 2021, Maharashtra’s Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant announced that colleges in the state can open from February 15. The classes can start with 50% capacity with voluntary attendance. Classes and Examinations can be conducted both online and offline mode, the Mumbai University is yet to decide upon how they will conduct exams.
But in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases, Mumbai University released a circular directing affiliated colleges in the city to postpone reopening until February 22.
The BMC officials asked for this postponement as resuming local trains for colleges could spike the number of cases in the city. Colleges affiliated with the university in Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Thane, Palghar rural, and other districts received permission to reopen on February 16.
In many states, offline schooling started with schools. And now, the authorities have been pushing to get colleges and universities into the in-person mode as well. The guidelines also allow students to choose if they want to get back to colleges or continue online, as some might choose to stay at home because of the pandemic, accommodation arrangements, etc.
Institutions will have to follow standard safety measures such as regular sanitization of institution premises and temperature screening of teachers and students on campus. Colleges and universities will accommodate students in batches and ensure social distancing, remaining open for longer hours for six days a week.
Wearing a mask will be mandatory at all times. A class will be separated into different batches, with students attending on-campus classes on a rotational basis. “The visitors should either not be allowed at all or their entry should be drastically restricted,” the UGC rules state. Extra-curricular and sports activities will be conducted only if social distancing is attainable. “Universities and colleges should have a ready plan to provide healthcare support to those resident students and staff who test positive and are isolated,” said the UGC in case a student or faculty tests positive for COVID-19.
Students have raised concerns regarding various aspects of the college's reopening plan. They are concerned about how practicals will be conducted for those who choose to continue online, local train timings for students who will get back to colleges, safety procedures to be followed in colleges, and accommodation arrangements for a mere 2-3 months, if outstation students need to get back to classes. The government is yet to announce another date of colleges reopening, as the news comes that a decision is to be taken on lockdown in Mumbai after February 22 as COVID cases surge.
The universities are yet to figure out a way to continue online and offline classes simultaneously.
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