HRD to varsities: Allow students to stay at hostels

NEW DELHI: In a move aimed at containing the spread of Covid-19, the HRD Ministry has on Saturday advised all educational institutions to let students who are still in hostels to stay put and take necessary precautions.

The step has been taken after taking a cue from Italy, where the coronavirus had spread across the country due to the unregulated movement of the people, including students, from one place to another.

In a letter written by HRD Secretary Amit Khare to the heads of UGC, AICTE, NCTE, CBSE, NTA, NIOS and all autonomous organisations of the ministry, it has been stated that those students who are still in hostels, particularly foreign students, should be allowed to continue in their hostels and advised to take all necessary safe precaution.

The universities and colleges have been issuing advisories to students to leave for homes and not stay in hostels as classes have already been suspended in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Last week, the HRD Ministry had directed that all exams in schools and colleges be postponed till March 31 and evaluation work be suspended.

The letter further said, “The faculty members should utilise this period for academic activities such as the development of online content, online teaching and online evaluation. Preparing lesson plans and developing instructional material for the courses to be offered during next year or semester, writing articles and papers and preparing question banks, are among the activities which can be pursued during the period.”

While the teaching and non-teaching staff is required to be available on phone and email, the institutions have been directed to count the period as being on duty, the

letter said.

The HRD has also asked students to continue their

learning by making full use of the available digital e-learning platforms during the period the educational institutions are closed as a precautionary measure to contain Covid-19.