Colleges, varsities reopen in Odisha after nine months

The physical classes and research activities for PhD and M.Phil. students resumed, he said. The classroom teaching has been remain suspended since mid-March 2020.

Finally, after more than nine months, the colleges and universities across Odisha reopened for students of final year undergraduate and postgraduate courses, amid the strict adherence to COVID-19 guidelines. Seats were arranged in a way to ensure all social distancing norms are followed, the official said.

"The classroom teaching resumed on January 11, 2021 for students of 2020-21 final year undergraduate and postgraduate courses of colleges and universities under the Higher Education department. The engineering institutes under the Skill Development and Technical Education department also reopened," the official said.

The physical classes and research activities for PhD and M.Phil. students resumed, he said. The classroom teaching has been remained suspended since mid-March 2020. The government reopened educational institutes considering the improvement in the COVID-19 situation in the state and the huge academic loss of students due to the pandemic, he said.

Earlier, on January 8, schools across the state reopened their classrooms for students who will be appearing for their board examination, while physical classes at medical colleges resumed on December 1 last year. The government also issued a guideline for the conduct of classroom teaching which should be held regularly to cover all chapters of the syllabus irrespective of coverage of some chapters by on-line mode.

"Whenever possible, the physical classroom teaching shall be recorded and shared with absentee students," the guideline said, adding that the COVID-19 prevention protocols need to be followed. At all times, it is mandatory for all the persons coming to colleges and varsities to wear facemasks. Social distancing should be maintained in classrooms and, if needed, crowded classes can be divided into batches and teaching hours in a day can be extended, the guideline said.

However, teachers, students and staff residing in active containment zone shall not come to their institutes, it said. Hostels also reopened from January 10 only for 2020- 21 final year undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as PhD, M.Phil and other research scholars. 

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