Bhubaneswar: Considering the improvement in Covid-19 situation in the State, the Government has decided to reopen all professional institutions for conduct of physical classes of final year students from August 9.
The Skill Development and Technical Education Department Joint Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar Nayak on Wednesday directed all the Technical Universities, Engineering and Professional Colleges, Polytechnics & Diploma institutions and ITIs of the State to reopen their institutions for the final year students.
The physical classroom teaching for final year students will commence from August 9, after all precautionary measures such as complete sanitization and disinfection of classrooms, laboratories, hostels etc. are taken as per the COVID guideline, Nayak said.
In addition to commencement of physical classroom teaching for UG, PG, Diploma and ITI courses, research activities will also commence in physical mode from the same date.
The Department has also issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for conduct of physical classroom teaching in the institutions.
As per the SOP, physical classes will be held in regular manner to cover all chapters of the syllabus irrespective of coverage of some chapters by on-line mode. Whenever possible, the physical classroom teaching will be recorded and shared with absentee students.
The institutions have been asked to follow Covid-19 prevention protocols. Teachers, staff and students residing in active containment zones will not be allowed to enter into the universities/colleges. Face masks, frequent hand wash/hand sanitization is mandatory for all.
Social distancing (6 ft. distance) 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, the Department said.
Spitting will be strictly prohibited. Respiratory etiquettes (i.e. covering one’s mouth and nose by handkerchief while coughing/sneezing) will also be strictly followed. Reporting of illness by students and staff has been made mandatory. The institutions have been instructed to keep an isolation room ready in all hostels for immediate shifting of any inmate reporting illness.