Punjab Universities and Colleges reopen, Guidelines released for colleges

Punjab Colleges and Universities have been reopened from November 16, 2020, onwards. The state government had earlier announced its decision to allow the reopening of the schools and colleges in the state from Monday onwards after being shut since March 2020 due to the pandemic.

The reopening has been conducted in phases by the state government. The first phase of reopening was conducted for the departments which needed hands-on training like Science and medicine. The second phase of the reopening will be conducted for the departments of Management, Commerce, etc.

The decision to reopen the degree colleges for the Arts and languages will be taken only after analyzing the situation. The universities will also decide on the order and dates for reopening the colleges as per the analysis of the situation. The focus of the state government is on the final academic schedule to be followed by colleges and universities. 

The state government has released Standard Operating Procedure and guidelines for the reopening of the universities and colleges. The SOPs release is an extension of the SOPs issued by the Ministry of Health for reopening the schools, colleges and institutes of Higher Education.

SOPs issued for Reopening

According to the SOPs issued by the state government, the college and Higher education Institutions will be repairing a complete roster for the different departments and batches of students in the programmes. An inclusive teaching plan will also be designed with the online and physical classes for covering the syllabus. 

Colleges have also been given permission to extend teaching hours with a fair rotation of teachers to ensure that the classes are conducted regularly. While the physical classes will be conducted for the final year students, the colleges will conduct classes for the remaining students in the online mode. It must also be noted that only 50 percent of the overall strength of the students will appear for the physical classes. 

Students attending classes have also been asked to wear masks compulsory. The Aarogya etu App and the updated COVA has to be downloaded by the students and staff members. The government will also constitute a task force to ensure complete and regular sanitization of the campus is conducted as per the rules every week. Separate entry and exit points will be installed with the necessary equipment including thermal scanners, sanitizers etc. Measures will also be taken to ensure social distancing in canteens, common rooms, libraries, and places of common gathering on the college campus.

The teachers who are not taking physical classes are required to ensure a minimum of 5 hours of online classes, tests, evaluation and other guidance. 

Along with these SOPs guidelines including those related to ensuring completion of syllabus and also ensuring that psychological counselling of the students has been released. The universities have also been advised to make sure that the number of teaching days is not reduced and online lectures are conducted on weekends to cover for the time lost. 

Also Read: Karnataka Colleges to reopen Today, resume in-person classes after 7 months amid strict COVID restrictions