Bengaluru colleges, which are set to reopen from November 17, 2020 have invited students and faculty members to get tested on the campus ahead of the reopening. Fr Victor Lobo, principal, St Joseph’s College said, “Testing on our campus has been going on since Thursday.” He added, “On Friday, over 900 students took the test arranged by BBMP on our campus. About 20 Palike officials are involved. Students have the option of undergoing the test on campus or getting a Covid negative certificate from elsewhere.”

Fr Joy D Souza, principal, Darshan College on Mysuru Road said that out of 300 students, 174 were tested on campus on Friday, November 13. He said, “We contacted BBMP on Thursday evening and they consented to be on campus. We sent messages to all students and they responded quickly. Students have to bring a negative certificate and parents’ consent letter when college reopens on November 17.”

The Karnataka state government has mandated Covid negative RT-PCR certificates from all students who want to attend regular classes. Colleges have begun sanitising campuses, forming task forces and displaying Covid etiquette posters. Colleges are also conducting surveys to find out about how many students are interested in attending college during this situation.

Meanwhile, some colleges say students are not yet ready to come back to the college campuses, “We will do what the government has asked us to do and wait. Many parents are unwilling to send their children to campus,” said BG Satyaprasad, president, Bangalore University B Schools Directors’/Principals’ Association.

Nagesh Rao, principal, East West College of Management, said that while local students would not have a problem attending, it could be a problem for outstation students. “Outstation students are wary as they are worried about the risks involved in travel and accommodation. We are hoping for 30-40% attendance initially,” he added.

Earlier, the department of higher education formulated SOPs (standardized operating procedures) as per the UGC guidelines, in view of the reopening of degree, engineering, and diploma colleges in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr CN Ashwatha Narayana, who is also the minister of higher education informed that preparation is underway to enable the start of the off-line classes. “The SOP has separate advisories set for the students of the final year and the classes will be conducted accordingly. Likewise, there are separate advisories set for the students of first and second-year students of the courses,” he said.

Source: Times of India

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