Maharashtra: Degree colleges To Reopen From October 20 with Over 50% Students

As the coronavirus cases went down significantly in the state, Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant on Wednesday made a big announcement.

The colleges and universities in the state can conduct physical classes from October 20 and students must be fully vaccinated in order to attend the classroom sessions.

"All the non-agricultural colleges, state-run universities, deemed universities, self-financed universities and colleges affiliated to them can start holding physical classes from October 20. The teaching as well as non-teaching staff should complete their vaccination on priority," Samant said.

The move from the state government came in the wake of schools across the state resuming physical sessions for classes 5 to 12 on October 4 after being shut for over one-and-a-half years due to the pandemic.

Guidelines to follow ahead of College Reopening:

•The minister said only the students who have taken both doses can attend the classes.

•He added that students who are yet to complete their vaccination against COVID-19 should get it on priority by coordinating with their respective colleges.

•The decision related to how many students should attend a class would be taken after discussing the matter with the local authorities.

•The minister said the universities should issue SOPs to the colleges affiliated to it.

•He said the proposal to allow college-going students to board local trains in Mumbai and neighbouring areas will be submitted before the state chief secretary soon.

•The students who need to stay at the hostel will be intimated by their college administration.