Devbrat Patnaik

Bhubaneswar: After a hiatus of almost ten months, all students of Post-Graduate (PG), Under-Graduate (UG), Diploma and ITI programmes in the Technical Universities, Engineering and Professional Colleges, Polytechnics, Diploma Institutions and ITIs in Odisha will be attending physical classes on campus from Wednesday (Feb 17).

Even as these educational institutions reopened last week, physical classroom teaching commenced today with strict adherence to all COVID protocols in place, as per the directive of Odisha Skill Development & Technical Education Department. This apart, research activities will also commence in physical mode from today.

The physical classroom teaching for all students of PG, UG, Diploma, ITI programmes, except final year students who are already attending physical classes, has been allowed from today, provided all precautionary measures such as complete sanitization and disinfection of classrooms, laboratories, hostels are taken as per the COVID guideline, the department has said.

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Conduct of Physical Classroom Teaching

(a) Physical classes shall be held in a regular manner to cover all chapters of the syllabus irrespective of coverage of some chapters by online mode.

(b) Whenever possible, physical classroom teaching shall be recorded and shared with absentee students.

(c) Following Covid-19 Prevention Protocols shall be followed.

  • Teachers, staff, students residing in active containment zone shall not come to Universities/Colleges.
  • Face mask or face cover shall be mandatory.
  • Frequent hand wash, hand sanitization shall be ensured.
  • Social distancing (6 ft distance) shall be adopted in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, etc. If needed, crowded classes can be divided into batches and teaching hours in a day can be extended.
  • Spitting shall be strictly prohibited.
  • Respiratory etiquettes shall be strictly followed (i.e. Covering one's mouth and nose by handkerchief while coughing/sneezing).
  • Self-monitoring of health should be encouraged.
  • Reposing of illness by students and staff should be mandatory. Isolation room in all hostels should be kept ready for immediate shifting of any inmate reporting illness.

(d) To compensate for the lost days, physical classroom teaching shall be conducted on all days except the examination period, Sundays, Saraswati Puja, Holi, Utkal Diwas, Rath Yatra, Muharram, Ganesh Puja, NuaKhai, Gandhi Jayanti, Durga Puja (4days), Diwali and Christmas.

Hostels in these institutions reopened on February 10 for the students, after authorities ensured all precautionary Covid-19 prevention protocols have been followed before the occupation of the students.

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