Maharashtra: Colleges, Universities To Reopen From February 15, Hostels To Remain Closed
Mumbai, February 3, 2021: Colleges in Maharashtra state will reopen from February 15. These colleges will be started with 50% attendance for regular classes in all non-agricultural universities, deemed universities, self-funded universities and their affiliated colleges in the state. State Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant said this at a press conference today.
Due to Coronavirus pandemic, colleges were conducting online classes. But now the state government has decided to start regular classes as COVID19 cases are declining. Decisions on how colleges should be started are to be taken by the universities with the help of the local administration.
Samant said colleges in the state were closed due to the outbreak of corona. Demands for starting colleges were coming from various quarters. In this regard, instructions were given to the universities on February 1 that they should prepare a standard operating procedure (SOP) regarding the curriculum, examination planning and hostel accommodations.
Samant said that as per the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC) dated November 5, 2020, considering the availability of space, the decision was taken in consultation with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to admit students up to 50 percent in rotation.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the Corona epidemic, the condition of 75 percent attendance in college has been abolished. At present, colleges will start with only 50 percent attendance, but the idea is to start 100 percent after March 5, said Samant.
Samant also said that colleges have been instructed to keep both online and offline options open to students. Colleges should not force students who have gone to their native places in lockdown, to come to college if they want to study online.
Although colleges will start, hostels will remain closed for the time being. Hostels in several districts of the state are functioning as quarantine centres for suspected patients, so those hostels cannot be pushed in any way. That is why the hostels will remain closed for the time being, said Samant.
