Mumbai: Colleges to open fully only post-Diwali

A classroom in National College being sanitised. Pic/Sameer Markande

After almost 19 months, students will be back on college campuses today, but not all activities will start at once. Even as colleges prepare to welcome students back safely by sanitising classrooms, campuses, laboratories and libraries, and also by preparing lists of dos and don'ts so that everyone follows the Covid-19 protocols, students will still have to wait for a full-fledged college reopening till post the Diwali break.

Many city colleges will start with only in-person science practical sessions and theory lectures will follow later. As exams are going on for some degree courses through the online mode, those students will return to campus only after Diwali. Considering the SOPs issued by Mumbai University and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, colleges are designing their own rules and regulations through the Covid vigilance committees formed on campuses.

Workers clean a classroom at National College, Bandra West, on Tuesday. Pic/Sameer Markande

Speaking to mid-day, Principal of Wilson College, Dr. Anna Pratima Nikalje, said, "College administrations have been given the liberty to decide on the reopening process, based on their individual needs and demographics. Accordingly, we have decided to begin with science practicals as students have not been introduced to the laboratory sessions at all over the past two years. Second year students are already having their exams online. In case of first year students, many of them are still out of town. The upcoming Diwali break will help colleges prepare for hybrid learning in detail."

The Wilson College administration has also decided to hold vaccination drives with the civic body's help for students and staff who are yet to take their doses. Ramnaraian Ruia College will only see Masters students returning to campus for practical sessions on Wednesday. "We shall gradually head towards calling back degree science students for laboratory sessions in batches. In-person classes for courses or subjects that focus more on theory shall follow in near future," said Dr. Anushree Lokur, principal of the college.

At Bandra's R D National College, classrooms are being prepared to live-stream lectures for online students, while the campus is already equipped with a wifi facility. Only staff members will be back on campus on Wednesday to understand the process while students will return on Thursday in batches prepared as per roll-number.

"We have prepared a timetable as per which the morning session will be for traditional courses and afternoon for professional courses. This is to ensure no crowding. Even teachers have been asked to leave once they are done with their lectures," said Dr. Neha Jagtiani, principal of the college.