Bhubaneswar: Even as classroom teaching has resumed in colleges and universities for three weeks, attendance of students has not been encouraging. A few colleges, however, have not resumed classroom teaching so far.
The State Government has ordered reopening of classes on August 16 in view of the decline in the number of COVID-19 positive cases.
The Utkal University has registered an overall attendance of 30 to 40 per cent so far. The university’s PG Council Chairman Basant Kumar Mallik has said, “Students who reside near the campus are attending offline classes. Online or distance mode of learning is in progress as an alternative mode of teaching. Students attending classes have been advised to wear face-masks and not assemble in groups on campus.”
“Hostels have opened for students of second-semester but only 20 per cent of hostellers have come back. Other inmates may join them gradually,” he added.
The varsity’s Public Administration Department, however, has registered an overall attendance of 50 per cent. Minati Bhol, an official of the department, said classroom teaching has started with full capacity after taking prescribed precautions. “The number of students attending the classes has increased in recent times,” she added.
As many as 70 per cent of students have resumed their classes since the reopening of the Rajdhani College in the city.
“We are attending classes regularly with our masks on. We have no time for gossip between the classes. Hence, there is no scope for gathering. Now, practical examinations have begun with adherence to the Covid guidelines,” said Milan Digal, a student.
Off-line classes have resumed in Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Autonomous College for prefinal year students on August 16.
Arpita Jena, a student of BJB, said, “We maintain social distance on the campus while interacting with friends. We enjoy offline classes.”
Shibaram Mahapatra, a student of Madhusudan Law College, Cuttack, said the overall attendance in the college is less than 40 per cent as some of the parents are hesitating to send their wards to classes. “We hope, the attendance improves in the coming days when we can meet our friends,” adds Shibaram.
