Decision to resume offline classes in colleges, Universities in Maharashtra in a day or two: Minister

Maharashtra Government is likely to release separate COVID-19 guidelines or Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), for the opening of colleges and universities across the state.

Maharashtra Government likely to restart offline classes in colleges and Universities soon, said Uday Samant, higher and technical education minister on Sunday, after meeting Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. He further said that the decision to reopen the colleges and to restart the offline classes will be taken in a day or two. 

The Minister also called a meeting of vice-chancellors of the universities on Monday; February 1, to discuss the issue in detail.

On January 29, Koshyari, who is also the chancellor of all the universities in the state, had called a meeting of all the vice-chancellors to review the annual audit, filling up vacant posts and preparations of the universities for starting physical classes. The vice-chancellors, in the meeting, demanded restarting of physical classes of colleges and universities without any delay. The Governor also voiced the same opinion and said that allowing physical classes for schools and not allowing offline classes in colleges and universities is contradictory.

The Maharashtra Government is likely to release separate COVID-19 guidelines or Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), for the opening of colleges and universities across the state.

Earlier, the Savitribai Phule Pune University circulated the notice for reopening the colleges under the university. Later it was withdrawn owing to a notice issued by the state department.

The Government has earlier also allowed physical classes for students between Class 5 and Class 12 in phases, except in Mumbai. Universities have already started their academic year to avoid any academic loss, and their online lectures are also going on.

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