-Reshma Ravishanker
In-person classes will remain suspended in all degree colleges under till February 16 in Karnataka over the Hijab row, a circular issued by the state government on Friday reads.
The circular states that all college and universities under the department of higher education, department of technical education, government, aided and unaided colleges, diploma colleges will remain shut to maintain peace following the Hijab row.
However, all examinations to be held on these days will be held as per schedule, the circular clarifies. Students will continue to have online classes during this period.
Classes for school students will commence from Monday onwards, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai had clarified.
Earlier in the day, there were rumours that use of mobile phones inside campus would be prohibited to maintain decorum on campus. Minister for higher education, Dr C N Ashwath Narayan said that such a move was not on the cards and that it would not be feasible during a time when hybrid learning has become essential.
Responding to a query by the media, he said, “Nowadays modern gadgets such as mobile, computer, laptop, tab, etc have become an integral part of the teaching-learning process. When such is the situation, how usage of mobile can be banned?”
However, even as PU colleges have been the epicenter of the controversy, the state government has not made an official announcement regarding the reopening of these classes yet.