Colleges, universities to also open post Diwali in Gujarat - The Times Of India

Colleges, universities to also open post Diwali in Gujarat - The Times Of India

No Reason To Keep Them Closed Indefinitely: Min

Kapil.Dave & Bharat.Yagnik TNN

Gandhinagar: 27.10.2020

Like schools, the state government is considering the option of starting oncampus education in colleges and universities as well. This will reduce online education in institutions of higher education amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, state education minister said, “As the government is intently considering starting regular schooling for students from class IX to XII, there is no reason for keeping colleges and universities closed for an indefinite period of time. College and university students are adults and know how to take precautions against coronavirus.”

At present, about 20 lakh students of 2,000 colleges and 45 universities are being educated through the online medium only. Colleges and universities have already demanded that they be allowed to resume on-campus education. On the basis of guidelines issued by the government of India, the state government is planning to resume on-campus education in schools from November 23.

The minister said that the state government will shortly initiate consultations with associations of universities and colleges and begin the exercise of drafting a standard operating procedure (SOP) for starting on-campus education in colleges and universities post Diwali.

At present, about 20 lakh students of 2,000 colleges and 45 universities are being educated through the online medium

Final decision after considering all safety aspects, govt clarifies

However, a final decision in this regard will be taken after due consideration of all aspects of safety of students,” Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, state education minister clarified.

Associations of colleges and teachers have welcomed the move. Sudhir Nanavati, president, Gujarat Higher Education College Association, said that at a time when all other activities are being opened, higher education also ought to be. “It is not possible to study everything online. On-campus education is required. The USA and other countries have adopted a model where both oncampus and online education is done simultaneously. If the government is considering having on-campus education for class IX to XII students, then on-campus education should definitely be held for college and university students,” Nanavati said.

Digvijaysinh Gohil of Gujarat State College Teachers Association also supported the idea of beginning on-campus education in colleges. “Life will begin to limp back to normal and students too will come out of Covid-related trauma. In either case, young people move all over the place. They can as well attend college,” Gohil said. Gujarat college principal association president, Jayvantsinh Sarvaiya said that physical examinations have been conducted in colleges and universities with no complaints, and regular classes can begin in colleges now. He added that most colleges and universities have however told the government that the odd-even system (calling 50% of students on alternate days to the campus) is not feasible, as the class size in colleges is large. “Regular classes and online classes can be held simultaneously,” he said.