Karnataka: Offline classes for colleges to begin on January 15

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister and the minister for higher education, Dr CN Ashwathnarayan, on Monday, announced that the physical classes for all the remaining grades of degree, post-graduate, engineering, and diploma courses will be opened on January 15.

The decision was taken after convening a high-level meeting with officials of several departments. "Offline classes for the final year students of the above course were commenced on November 17, and have been running successfully. There was a demand to start the classes from students of remaining grades also. By considering this demand and in the best interest of the students, the decision to this effect has been taken," the minister said.

Hostels for all the students will be opened simultaneously and also the bus pass facility will be provided. "All precautionary measures including Covid test in colleges, sanitization, maintaining social distance have been taken care of as per Covid 19 guidelines. Arrangements have been made to enable disbursal of student bus passes in an expeditious manner and transport department has agreed to this. The colleges are directed to establish contact with concerned officials of the bus depot of their limits and coordinate with regard to providing bus passes," the minister said.

NCC and NSS training in the colleges have also been allowed. NCC exams also need to be conducted and to enable this, it has been decided to organize short-term camps. Narayan said that the conduct of three days camp for the B-Certificate exam and 5 days camp for the C-Certificate exam. "The department of Social welfare and Backward Classes has been asked to come out with separate SOP's to be followed in hostels and SOP's for the library, canteen, during academic & cultural activities and sports meets have been framed," he informed.

It has also been decided to conduct offline examination on a common date after consultations with all the Vice-Chancellors of state-run and private universities. The date of examination will be announced shortly.