Karnataka provides SOPs for colleges resuming from November 17

The Department of Higher Education has drafted and provided with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), based on the UGC guidelines with reference to resuming the degree, engineering and diploma colleges in the state starting from November 17. 

Deputy Chief Minister, Dr CN Ashwatha Narayana, who is also in-charge of the higher education minister intimated on Monday regarding the on-going preparation for resuming the offline classes.

He said, “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.”

The directions issued declared the postgraduate and final year students who are willing to attend the offline classes can do so with a consent letter signed from the parents.

The guidelines issued by the health department and the advisories stated the physical classes are required to mandatory follow the norms of social distancing, based on the total number of students and the number of class rooms which would be available for the classes.

A shift system can be used, as and when required for the teaching, practical and project classes. At the same tome, for students who are not willing to attend the offline classes, can continue with the online classes, for which a faculty will be allocated.

According to the SOP, the contact classes need to be held on a daily basis for assisting the students for any doubts or clarifications they require pertaining to the subject topics.

The SOP stated, “The time table should be prepared at the college level itself so as to enable to maintain the social distance as per the guidelines of the health department and the present advisories based on the total number of students and the available number of classrooms while conducting the contact classes.”

The SOP directs the teachers for drafting and catering to any study material required by the students on monthly basis for the total lectures conducted in the month and share it to the students with platforms like Telegram/WhatsApp/E-mail.

The study materials need to adhere to a certain format ranging from video lectures, PowerPoint presentations, e-books, audio books, e-notes, practice questions and simultaneously upload it on the college website as a part of the mandatory protocol.

The SOP also mentions for the students to reside in the on or off-campus hostels for the students who attend the online or contact classes.

Also, the institutions need to follow the general precautionary measures inclusive of cleaning and sanitizing of buildings, entrance, furniture, teaching materials and also having Covid-19 testing for the teachers, non-teaching faculty, students and others.