Karnataka degree, diploma and engineering colleges are all set to reopen from tomorrow

The colleges and universities in Karnataka are gearing up for the resumption of regular classes after being shut down for nearly eight months due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The colleges in the state are set to reopen from tomorrow, November 17.

The state government had recently issued directives to reopen the degree, engineering, and diploma colleges in Karnataka from November 17. The decision to reopen the schools in the state is still on hold by the primary and secondary education department of Karnataka.

Though the degree, engineering, and diploma colleges in Karnataka are set to reopen from tomorrow, the medical, dental, paramedical, and nursing and AYUSH colleges will reopen from December 1, 2020, with several safety measures.

Many government and government-aided degree colleges have started preparations by sanitizing the classrooms with the spraying of disinfectants and setting up hand sanitizers at the entrance of the college and classrooms.

According to the



directives issued by the state government, the students will have the option of attending online classes or physical classes in the classrooms. Apart from that, all students, staff, and teachers will have to undergo the RT-PCR test before attending college.

Students will also have to get a no-objection certificate signed by their parents or local guardian, permitting their wards to attend physical classes in colleges.

Ahead of the reopening of colleges, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwath Narayan, who holds the higher education portfolio, told reporters guidelines have already been given to them (colleges) in view of the coronavirus scare. He said the government is also keenly monitoring the measures taken by colleges.

Colleges have also been asked to set up a Covid-19 task force consisting of teachers, staff, and students to ensure that all the safety guidelines are being followed diligently. A senior official in the Education Department said education was badly hampered due to the lockdown for eight months.