From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Mar 23: Despite the anxiety over the Covid Second Wave and a spike in the number of positive cases in the State, Offline classes for degree students will continue and all the examinations will be held as scheduled.

Deputy Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, who held a high-level meeting with senior officials in which Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa also participated, made the announcement and made it clear there will be no changes in the offline classes and examinations for degree students notwithstanding the confirmation of the Second Wave of Covid pandemic in the State.

“We do not want to make any changes in the academic schedules for the degree students,’’ Dr Narayan said.

He said the State Government has directed all the Universities and colleges to mandatorily follow the Covid guidelines.

“We have discussed with the Universities, colleges, polytechnics and other educational institutions on the possible repercussions of the Covid second wave over the academic activities during the 2020-21 academic year. I have also discussed the issue with the Chief Minister,’’ Dr Narayan said pointing out that the conduct of the online and offline classes so far has also been reviewed along with the higher and lower semester examinations.

The Deputy Chief Minister mentioned that the Social Welfare and Backward Classes Departments will be asked to continue the hostels run by them. The Covid guidelines must be compulsorily followed in the campuses of the Universities, colleges and also respective hostels.

Additional Chief Secretary of Higher Education Department Kumar Naik, Higher Education Council Vice President Dr Thimmegowda, Executive Director Gopal Joshi and Technical Education Department Commissioner Pradeeep also participated in the meeting.