Ensuring social distancing will be difficult, say colleges

Ensuring social distancing will be difficult, say colleges

UGC Releases Detailed Set Of Guidelines

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:6.11.2020 

The government has said colleges can reopen on November 16, but institutions are worried about ensuring social distancing on crowded campuses. Some plan to accommodate only science students in hostel, while others mull allowing only final year students on campuses.

The higher education department is yet to release any standard operating procedures, but the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Thursday released a detailed set of guidelines for universities and colleges.

As per the guidelines, institution have been urged to reopen in a phased manner, not to allow more than 50% of the students on campus at any given point of time and to give preference to research scholars, postgraduates and final year students.

But, many colleges have more than 5,000 students in two shifts. Thomas Amirtham, principal of Loyola College which has around 10,000 students coming in the mornings and evenings, said it would be tough. “We conducted a survey among students and more than 60% of them are not willing to come back. Students from north-eastern states and outside the country may not be able to return in the absence of regular flight and train services,” he said, adding that the ideal time to reopen would be in January after the festival season.

The management of the college, which was a Covid care centre, is the process of being handed back the buildings from the corporation. “They [corporation officials] are in the process of removing the mattresses. After that, we will disinfect buildings,” he said.

Madras Christian College plans to allow only science students who need lab classes in hostels and in classrooms. “We have more than 8,000 students in both shifts and will finalise the plan after getting SOPs from the government,” said principal Paul Wilson.

He said the college also needs to set up a mini hospital or clinic to isolate the students with fever and other symptoms.

Ethiraj College for Women, with 8,200 students, wants only 50% of students on the campus at any given time. “The rest will attend classes online,” said principal S Kothai. The college is converting four-bed rooms to two-bed rooms in hostels and plans a fever ward.

Women’s Christian College principal Lilian Jasper said it would be difficult to accommodate all 70 students in a class at the same time. “We are thinking of getting third year students first.”

Guru Nanak College, with 8,400 students, plans only practical classes after reopening as theory classes were completed online. “It would be difficult to maintain social distancing during breaks,” said principal M G Ragunathan. He further said teachers would find it difficult to teach for five hours wearing masks.

Engineering colleges, which almost completed classes for students online except freshers, have a bigger challenge as many of their students are hostellers.

“Parents are not willing to send their wards to colleges in this situation. If a student gets infected, it could spread fast,” said RM Kishore, vicechairman, RMK Engineering College. Most colleges situated are in far-off places and canteens are necessary. “Canteens or hostels could become Covid hotspots. We cannot have full strength,” said B Chidambararajan, principal of SRM Valliammai Engineering College.