Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Saturday announced that the physical classes for UG First Year students will commence from September 20, i.e; Monday.
In a letter, Higher Education Department Principal Secretary Saswat Mishra directed Vice-Chancellors of all state public universities and Principals of all Government and non-Government degree colleges coming under the Higher Education Department to commence physical classroom teaching for 2020-21 UG First Year students (both 3 year and 4 year UG courses).
Hostels will reopen for the students from September 19 (tomorrow). All possible COVID-19 protocols will be followed in the hostels.
The department issued the following safety guidelines for commencement physical classes of UG First Year students:
- Teachers/staff/students residing in Containment Zones shall not come to college/university
- Face mask/face cover shall be mandatory
- Frequent hand wash, sanitization shall be ensured
- Social distancing shall be adopted in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, etc. If needed, crowded classes can be divided into batches and teaching hours in a day can be extended
- Spitting in campus shall be strictly followed
- Respiratory etiquettes shall be strictly followed (covering mouth and nose by handkerchief while coughing/sneezing)
- Self-monitoring of health and reporting of illness should be encouraged
- There must be isolation room ready for any emergency
