Follow COVID norms strictly, colleges told

HYDERABAD: The University Grants Commission (UGC) directed vice-chancellors and principals of all universities, colleges and educational institutions to strictly enforce Covid appropriate behaviour at all times and at all places in the higher educational institutions (HEIs).

In a letter addressed to the educational institutions, the UGC said it had constantly been monitoring the academic activities in the HEIs affected by pandemic and issued appropriate guidelines from time to time with respect to the revised academic calendar, examinations, reopening of institutions, standard operating procedures (SOP) for the conduct of examinations in view of the pandemic induced lockdowns.

Despite regular advisories, not many institutes are able to enforce safety norms. A survey conducted by Deccan Chronicle earlier in a few schools in the city found the same.

Speaking to students from colleges and universities, this newspaper came to know that students are unable to maintain social distance and uncomfortable in wearing masks for longer durations. "We wear masks when the faculty is present but we sit together and remove masks when they are not around,” said a student from Osmania University. He added, "There were Covid-19 cases detected in our university too but not all are aware about it. If any student develops symptoms, they are shifted to isolation wards."

A student from St. Francis College for women also said there were hardly any sanitizers in the college, and it had been a really long time since the college was sanitized. "Teachers are not clearly audible in masks, so the faculty sometimes removes the masks and so do we, '' she said. A student from University of Hyderabad affirmed the same. 

A close group of students was seen playing a sport at A.V College. When this correspondent questioned a student, he said, "We have sports practice twice or thrice per week. It is difficult to wear masks and play."

A faculty member from the Wesley College, P.G Road, raised concern that students gather in groups in the break time.  "We will soon follow stricter Covid-19 protocols," he said.

Due to the evolving situation of the new Omicron variant, a few students have not returned from their hometowns since Dasara vacation, confirmed a faculty from the EFLU in the city. "We are following all the Covid protocols and maintaining social distance, the students are scared to attend physical classes so we have provided an online option for them," she said. 

Some students said they were tired of online classes but wanted online exams if online classes were conducted. Most of the universities and colleges are conducting offline examinations currently and will soon break for Christmas vacation.