Offline classes for UG pre-final year, first year PG students to begin in Odisha from February 10

The state government has started reopening educational institutes in the state considering the improvement in the COVID-19 situation.

Odisha Government has announced that it has decided to reopen Universities and Colleges across the state for the students of pre-final year undergraduate and first-year postgraduate from February 10. Schools, colleges and universities across the state have been kept closed since the start of lockdown in March 2020. The state government has started reopening educational institutes in the state considering the improvement in the COVID-19 situation.

The Odisha government has also released the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Universities and colleges. Social distancing of at least six-feet, use of face masks, frequent hand-washing and following respiratory etiquettes like covering one's mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing are to be followed by the students and the teaching and non-teaching staff while attending the classes.

The Odisha Government has already started the physical classes in offline mode for the final-year students of undergraduate and postgraduate progammes from January 11, 2021.

"Whenever possible, the physical classroom teaching shall be recorded and shared with absentee students," the guideline issued earlier for the final-year students said, adding that the COVID-19 prevention protocols need to be followed. If needed, the guideline also said, crowded classes can be divided into batches and teaching hours in a day can be extended. However, teachers, students and staff residing in active COVID-19 containment zones shall not come to their institutes, it added.

Odisha Government has also announced that it will be distributing the 'Happiness Kits' among the students as part of its drive to improve immunity. The decision to distribute happiness kits among the students has been taken by the state government keeping in mind the likelihood of reopening of schools in the state soon. The happiness kits that will be distributed among the students will consist of peanuts, jaggery, chickpeas among other items -- to boost their immunity.

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