The universities and institutions in Punjab are allowed to open from November 16 onwards only after testing staff for Covid-19. Initially, at the universities, only departments with hands on training like Departments of Sciences or Medicine will be opened. This will be followed by the departments where the hands on training can be delayed like Departments of managements, commerce etc.
After the assessment of the situation, the departments of arts and languages will follow suit. The universities at their own level will set the order of precedence for opening of institutions. Making decision on final academic schedule will be the responsibility of the concerned universities keeping in view their specific requirements.
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Education institutions will have to prepare details of opening the campus in a phased manner with a complete roster for all departments and batches of students in different programmes. The colleges will adopt hybrid teaching ensuring full and systematic coverage of syllabus with liberty to extend teaching hours and a fair rotation of teachers in such a number of batches that seamless study and teaching work goes on regular basis.
In the first phase, students of final year only can be called for physical classes with not more than 50 per cent of the students on any given day wearing mask without exception. For other classes, online mode is advised. The institutions with less strength and enough space for mandatory social distancing may allow more than 50 per cent or more students. Students and college staff members will download and update COVA and Arogya Setu application.
