Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has chaired a meeting with Directors of IISc, IITs, IISERs and NITs through Video Conferencing and exhorted that there is a need to maintain the quality education in these Institutes of National Importance besides taking adequate safety measures for managing COVID-19 situation. He reviewed the status of imparting online education and virtual laboratory courses by these Institutes.
On the occasion, the Directors of the institutes mentioned that they have already started online teaching since the commencement of initial lockdown in March last year. Some of the institutions have also developed their own app for online teaching and evaluation. They also informed that for students facing connectivity issues, the lecture contents were made available even for later use which they can download from anywhere and study. The Minister was impressed that the positive thinking and reactions to the current situation could avoid unnecessary anxiety among the students and teaching community.
Minister of State for Education Sanjay Dhotre appreciated all the institutions for ensuring continuation of academic sessions during the COVID-19 period. He urged them to focus on science and technology and work on new innovations to tackle the unprecedented challenges caused due to COVID.
The Institutes detailed their COVID-19 management strategy and also voluntary service extended to local administration for awareness and supply of necessary support for management of the situation in the respective State. The Institutes also briefed about the vaccination drive undertaken for the campus residents in consultation with local administration and as per the guidelines.
