UG, PG final year classes to restart Jan 11

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government Sunday asked the state public universities and government as well as non-government degree colleges coming under Higher Education Department to commence physical classroom teaching for students of 2020-21 final year UG/ PG courses starting January 11, 2021- Monday.

Guidelines for physical classroom teaching:

1. Physical classes shall be held in regular manner to cover all chapters of the syllabus irrespective of coverage of some chapters by on-line mode.
2. Whenever possible, physical classroom teaching shall be recorded and shared with absentee students.
3. Teachers/ staff/ students residing in active containment zone shall not come to universities/ colleges.
4. Face mask/ face cover shall be mandatory.
5. Frequent hand wash/ hand sanitization shall be ensured.
6. Social distancing (6 ft. distance) shall be adopted in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, etc. If need be, crowded classes can be divided into batches and teaching hours in a day can be extended.
7. Spitting shall be strictly prohibited.
8. Respiratory etiquettes shall be strictly followed. (i.e covering one’s mouth and nose by handkerchief while coughing/ sneezing).
9. Self-monitoring of health and reporting of illness should be encouraged.
10. Hostels shall be opened from January 10, 2021 only for 2020-21 Final Year UG/ PG students as well as PhD, MPhil and other research scholars. All possible COVID-19 prevention protocols shall be followed in hostels.
11. 25 per cent of the syllabus shall be covered by guided students self-study.
12. To compensate for lost days, physical classroom teaching shall be conducted on all days except the examination period, Sundays, January 26, 2021 (Republic Day), February 16, 2021(Saraswati Puja) and April 1, 2021(Utkal Divas). To this extent, the common holiday list-2021, communicated to all degree colleges, has been superseded.
13. In addition to commencement of physical classroom teaching for 2020-21 final year UG/ PG courses, teaching and research activities of PhD, MPhil and other research scholars shall also commence in physical mode from January 11, 2021.
14. State private universities under Higher Education Department may also consider commencing physical classroom teaching of final year UG/ PG courses from January 11, 2021 by following this guideline to the extent applicable.                                                                                                                                         PNN