Decision on reopening colleges likely in next 4 days, says Samant

Samant proposes to take up the matter with the Disaster Management Authority after the vice chancellors come on board

Wait seems to be over for students to physically attend colleges and universities in Maharashtra. Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant, on Tuesday, said that the vice-chancellors of all the universities are positive about reopening the universities and colleges as COVID-19 cases are declining and there are less number of deaths.

“Work is under way to put in place standard operating procedures that will be framed jointly by the universities and the state government. However, colleges will not be reopened at one go, but in phases. The announcement is expected in the next two to four days af ter the Disaster Management Authority meets under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and takes a decision,” said Samant.

In a bid to avoid any confrontation with Governor BS Koshyari, who is also the Chancellor of Universities in the state, Samant has initiated dialogue with the vice chancellors. Governor had expressed serious displeasure over the state government’s decision of not holding finalyear examinations last year citing COVID-19. He had said that not conducting the final year examinations by the universities amounts to breach of University Grant Commission’s guidelines. Therefore, Samant proposes to take up the matter at the Disaster Management Authority only af ter the vice chancellors come on board. He said that he had held a meeting with the vice chancellors on Monday and they were in favour of restarting the colleges and universities.

Work is underway to put in place standard operating procedures that will be framed jointly by the universities and the state government. However, colleges will not be reopened at one go, but in phases. Uday Samant, Higher and Technical Education Minister