In recent developments, Uday Samant, Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister, announced that universities and colleges will reopen in Maharashtra from February 15 onwards.
According to reports, the classes will be held on a rotational basis and 50 per cent attendance has to be maintained. Speaking about the same, Dr Meena Chintamaneni, Registrar, SVKM's NMIMS, stated, "We welcome the government's decision to open schools and universities. We have received the state government notification today, and are reviewing it internally. We remain committed to student safety, and will issue our plan of action according to the notification soon."
In view of the outbreak of the coronavirus and the subsequent lockdown, colleges across the state had shut down back in March 2020. Moreover, the government is to soon issue a list of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to all colleges and universities in the state for reopening with regards to the pandemic.
Samant had further stated that the decision was taken in consultation with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, keeping the guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) on November 5, 2020. Universities and affiliated colleges in the restricted areas of the State which fall under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation/Municipality or Collector and Chairman, District Disaster Management Authority, should consult the concerned University.
Furthermore, he stated that the concerned universities should start colleges with the consent of the local authorities. Moreover, the universities have also been advised to prepare guidelines for the phase-wise reopening of hostels and conduct safety audits of the hostels.
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