Bhubaneswar: The state government has decided to continue the offline class for students of the first year of undergraduate and graduate students for sessions 2021-22 from November 1 and 15 November.
The Ministry of Higher Education on Wednesday wrote a letter to all representatives of Chancellor and University Principal who detailed Covid protocols that need to be maintained.
While wearing a face mask has made mandatory for students, all higher educational institutions have been asked to ensure frequent hand hygiene and regular use of cleaners.
Guidelines forbidding spit in public places while also making mandatory social distance in classrooms, libraries, laboratories and elsewhere on campus.
In addition, breathing etiquette must be completely followed like closing the mouth and nose with a handkerchief when coughing and sneezing.
Health monitoring and disease reporting must be encouraged among students, the guidelines are maintained.
All colleges must reopen the isolation room that is ready for any emergency, he added.
The state government decided to reopen universities and universities for first year students after the University Grant (UGC) commission revised the academic calendar for refresher due to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases throughout the country.
According to the revised calendar, the academic session for refreshing will begin in November, not September.
When the academic session has been postponed, UGC has asked for college to continue the class for six days a week without summer or winter breaks to compensate for the loss of study time.
Hostel facilities will also be available for students and they must adhere to all possible covid protocols.