Colleges to reopen on Oct 20: MU, BMC to take final call on city institutes

The government said universities and colleges should hold vaccination camps to inoculate their students

After over a year-and-a-half of closure, colleges across Maharashtra on Wednesday got the go-ahead to reopen in-person classes for fully vaccinated students from October 20. Even as the state government will declare guidelines for the educational institutes, the final call will be taken by individual universities along with the local civic body. Colleges can operate only at 50 per cent capacity, said the government.

Students must be fully vaccinated to attend physical classes in colleges. If not, colleges and universities shall hold vaccination drives for students," said state higher and technical education minister Uday Samant.

Online learning will continue since only fully vaccinated students will be allowed for in-person classes from October 20. Representation pic

Samant said colleges and universities will have to operate at only 50 per cent of their total capacity. As per the latest Government Resolution (GR), colleges have been told to continue the online platform of learning even as in-person classes are to begin. Hostels can also be reopened in phases, though the director of higher education will take the final decision on it after reviewing the conditions in different districts.

"The state government will also request railways for permission to board local trains for students. Teaching and non-teaching staff of colleges should also be fully vaccinated, said Samant.

What's in store for Mumbai

Despite the green signal, colleges across the city will have to wait for the Mumbai University to take a final call along with the BMC. A varsity official said they will take a decision on reopening in the coming days. City colleges welcomed the announcement.

Dr Madhav Rajwade, principal of Sathaye College, said, "This was long-awaited. Even as there are going to be some difficulties in final implementation of it, this will definitely begin the process. Anyway, we cannot immediately begin in a full-fledged manner. Even as Semesters III and IV are almost nearing the end, Semester I students will be able to take advantage of this. Moreover, the upcoming Diwali break will give colleges time to make required arrangements on campus."

Students activist Rohit Dhale from Chatra Bharati Vidyarthi Sanghatna, was also upbeat. He said, "This is a good decision but the state should provide the university and colleges with all support for effective implementation, starting from allowing local train for Mumbai students to holding vaccination drives in colleges."

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Approx. no. of colleges affiliated to varsity