From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, May 21: All universities and colleges in the state for higher education courses for all Post Graduation, Under Graduation educational programmes, will commence online classes and even semesters but conducting offline classes will be reviewed after the Covid Second Wave pandemic situation eases, deputy chief minister and higher education minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan said in Bengaluru on Friday.
Dr Narayan, who is also the State’s Covid Task Force chief, said even those universities and colleges who have not completed odd semester examinations of UG programs shall continue online classes for even for second, fourth, sixth, and eighth semesters as there is a carryover system in most of the programs.
The remaining examinations of odd semesters of UG programs can be conducted/scheduled once the pandemic situation comes under control, he said.
In cases where there are some restrictions on carryover to higher semesters, maybe in engineering and professional courses, Dr Narayan has advised the vice-chancellors/principals to work out the details in consultation with the Karnataka State Higher Education Council.
With regard to the postgraduate programs, he said: “Admission processes for the first semesters were delayed in some universities due to Covid situation. But the third-semester classes have been completed in many of the universities. In some universities, examinations had started. Therefore, in respect of PG programs, in universities where classes of the odd semester are completed and only examinations are pending, they shall continue online classes for even semesters.’’
The examinations of odd semesters can be conducted/scheduled once the Covid-19 situation eases, he said.
In universities where odd semester classes are not completed, they shall continue the classes through online mode.
After the odd semester classes are completed and if the Covid situation still persists making it difficult to conduct examinations, they shall start online classes for even semesters, immediately after the completion of odd semester classes.
Examination of odd semester classes can be conducted/scheduled once the Covid situation eases, he said.
Further, Dr Narayan said: “As and when things develop, the situation will be reviewed in consultation with the Vice-Chancellors and the Karnataka State Higher Education Council to rework guidelines and schedules for implementation in all the colleges and universities.”