Offline classes for first, second year degree, PG students after Sankranti: Minister Ashwath Narayana

Bengaluru: The offline classes for first and second-year students of degree, post-graduation, diploma and engineering students will start after Makar Sankranti and Vice-Chancellors have been asked to submit a report in this regard.

Deputy Chief Minister Ashwath Narayana who is also the Minister of Higher Education, announced on Friday that the offline classes for the final-year students of the above classes had already started successfully. "Taking this success into account, it has been decided to open the remaining classes also. All measures will be taken as per UGC and Covid guidelines," he said.

He said this after a videoconference with the Vice-Chancellor of government and private universities, senior officials of higher education and other departments.

The V-Cs suggested that the government start offline classes.

However, Narayana clarified that specific date to start classes would be decided after the submission of the report by the Vice-Chancellors.

"The meeting prominently deliberated convenient time to start the academic year 2021-22. Ashwath Narayana told that the exams for second PUC students have already been announced to be conducted in the second week of May. The time table for the higher education will be framed keeping this in mind," he said.

The V-Cs and registrars favoured holding offline examinations rather than going for online exams.

"The government will consider this seriously. As per UGC norms examination needs to be completed in the month of March. But, the syllabus has not been completed in several universities. So, the government is mulling conducting the examination process in April or May," he clarified.

Speaking on the confusion over students' bus pass, he said that the issue would be cleared soon after discussion with Deputy CM Lakshmana Savadi, who is the Minister of Transport.

"It will be finalized whether students can use the old pass itself or not. Hostel facility will be provided for students of SC/ST community after the beginning of classes and department of social welfare has responded positively about this," the minister stated.