Colleges mull various options – Times of India

Kolkata: College authorities on Monday discussed various permutations and combinations at their disposal with regard to reopening of campuses from November16 to ensure that all safety guidelines are followed, transition from online to offline is smooth and no student has to miss any classes during the shift. A final picture on how colleges make the transition will emerge by the end of this week or early next week.
Asok Mukhopadhayay, principal of Seth Anandram Jaipuria College said, “We have morning, day and evening shifts. We might call students of different shifts on alternate days. The final decision will be taken next week. We have also decided to continue with online classes for students who might not be able to come to the campus.”
Madhumanjari Mandal, principal of Scottish Church College said, “We discussed several strategies today and a final decision will be taken later this week. But whatever the final plan the priority will be following the government’s Covid guidelines.”
Deepali Singhee, principal of JD Birla Institute said, “For the science section we are thinking of catching up with practical classes while theory classes might continue online. For BBA and Commerce where we have a lot of students we plan to call them on alternate days. A final plan will be in place by early next week.”
At Vivekananda College, authorities might split students from each semester on the basis of odd even roll numbers and call them to the campus on alternate days. “This way we will be able to maintain social distancing and all the students will get an opportunity to come to college,” said Tapan Kumar Poddar, principal of the college.
Several students’ bodies have already started demanding that colleges and universities vaccinate the remaining students immediately, sanitise classrooms and arrange proper hostel facilities before reopening.