The University of Delhi is all set to resume practical lab sessions for final year undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) students from September 15. As per the order, the physical presence of students may be optional and must be for them to decide.
Meanwhile, the theoretical classes for all UG and PG courses will be held in offline mode till further notice. Also, the order issued on Monday by Delhi University, DU said that the teaching and non-teaching staff of the colleges/ departments/centres must receive both the doses of Covid vaccine at the earliest.
As per the announcement, “It is further advised that all students entering into the college/department/university receive at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine. Although both doses of Covid-19 vaccine are essential for hostel students, ensure that the residents have at least one dose of vaccine,” the notification read.
The order said if the sitting arrangements in libraries are not adequate in accordance with Covid protocols, then libraries “may at least allow the issuing of books to the students on a regular basis.” “The colleges/departments/centres may also consider giving prior date – time – slot appointments to the students before allowing them to visit the library in order to avoid overcrowding,” it said.
“Only a limited number of experiments/exercises/practicals may be selected that are considered essential or important in that semester. Their physical presence may be optional and left to the students to decide. Since the physical entry of students is voluntary, attendance of the students shall not be compulsory,” the university said in the order issued on Monday.
The order has put the onus on the head of the institution to decide whether final year students are allowed to attend for academic consultation and placement purposes. “However, it should be ensured that students not more than 50 per cent of the sitting capacity should be present at any point of time,” it said.
Further, the order said any plan of transition to offline mode must take into account the prevailing conditions and the specific requirements of the institutions concerned, “allowing it to deal with any eventuality arising due to the Covid-19 pandemic”.
“However, keeping the safety concerns as the utmost priority, it was also considered necessary to transition into the blended (online-offline) mode of teaching and learning in a phased manner,” it read.
Earlier, in the first week of August, DU had announced that it would hold physical classes for science stream students in view of a decline in corona virus cases, following which a section of teachers had expressed displeasure over the university’s decision to call students to campus.
