Reopen varsities in phased manner: Students to Maharashtra government

In their demand, student groups mentioned the need for practical classes for several subjects which cannot be conducted online, leaving students at a loss during exams.

Even as colleges affiliated to the University of Mumbai (MU) are currently busy conducting their first-semester exams online, different student groups have demanded that the state government take immediate steps to reopen colleges and universities in a phased manner.

Colleges affiliated to the University of Mumbai (MU) are currently busy conducting their first-semester exams online. (HT FILE)

In their demand, student groups mentioned the need for practical classes for several subjects which cannot be conducted online, leaving students at a loss during exams.

“First-semester classes across colleges were conducted virtually where the focus was mainly on theory. However, a host of subjects in arts, sciences as well as other streams require practical classes to understand concepts better, which has been missing from the curriculum,” said Siddharth Ingle, president of Maharashtra Students’ Union (MASU). He added that MASU and other student groups have already raised this issue with local authorities and now hope for the state education minister to take a stand.

“The state has allowed temples and churches to open to public but schools and colleges still remain shut. The government should take steps and form guidelines to ensure safe reopening of colleges for the benefit of students,” added Ingle. His group has also demanded that the state minister for higher and technical education Uday Samant take a stand on the status of fees being charged by colleges, especially when lectures have only been conducted virtually this entire semester.

In November this year, the state government decided to bring back students from Class 9 to Class 12 back to schools and colleges in batches so as focus on conducting practical lectures for them. However, in view of the increasing cases of Covid-19, the government asked educational institutes to remain shut till December 31 for students of other classes.

At present, many schools across the state, barring Mumbai and Thane, have already started bringing students of Class 9 to Class 12 back to the campus after ensuring that teachers undergo Covid-19 tests and students, too, get consent forms signed by their parents before coming back to school.