Delhi University campus to reopen for offline classes from February 17

The university was shut in March 2020 after the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. In-person practical sessions for third-year students resumed last year, but the university was shut again on account of the spike in cases in December

Remaining shut for nearly two years due to the Covid-induced restrictions, the Delhi University will reopen for in-person classes from February 17, the university administration said on Wednesday, and added that all outstation students will have to undergo mandatory isolation for three days before they can enter their college.

Several students outfits have been protesting at North Campus, demanding reopening of DU for offline classes. (Amal KS/HT Photo)

The university was shut in March 2020 after the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. In-person practical sessions for third-year students resumed last year, but the university was shut again on account of the spike in cases in December.

According a written order issued by the university registrar on Wednesday, offline classes for all the undergraduate and postgraduate courses will begin with effect from February 17. The reopening of the campus was announced by DU proctor Rajni Abbi along with other DU officials amid the backdrop of protests by various student organisations.

Abbi met the protesting students and handed over a written assurance to Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) office bearers, saying the campus was reopening.

“The students enrolled in the University of Delhi and its colleges belong to all corners of the country and have been residing in their hometown since the teaching-learning process has continued online. It is difficult for the students in different parts of the country to reach Delhi at a short notice in the prevailing pandemic situation. Appropriate time is required for students to arrange for their travel from their respective hometown to Delhi,” the order, signed by registrar Vikas Gupta, said.

The university has also asked both teaching and non-teaching staff and students to get vaccinated at the earliest.

Various organisations such as AISA, ABVP, SFI, CYSS, which have been protesting to demand the reopening of the university, welcomed the decision.

Siddharth Yadav, ABVP’s national media convenor and Delhi state secretary, said the student outfit had been fighting for the last two years to get the campus reopened. “We are glad that this fight has come to an end. It is a victory for every student of the university,” said Yadav.

Members of AISA said that the decision was a hard-fought victory of students. “Finally, this ends the undue hardship faced by DU students due to the ineptitude of DU administration which has kept the university shut for almost two years and abdicated their responsibility completely,” AISA said in a statement.

Abha Dev Habib, a teacher at Miranda House, said while students’ protests had compelled the university to notify reopening of the campus, the order did not offer the option of online classes to students who were nearing the end of their semester.

“Reopening could have been initiated for 4th and 6th-semester students, to start with. Given the fact that the 1st-semester students are going to see the end of their studies, they could have been allowed online classes for the remaining part of the semester, and to take an open book exam. They could have been asked to join in April second semester onwards,” said Habib.