Decision to reopen colleges, universities only after government’s new guidelines

Srinagar: Amid speculations about reopening of colleges and universities in Jammu and Kashmir, the authorities on Tuesday said the decision to reopen the educational institutes will be taken only after the government issues new guidelines.

Quoting a top official of the Higher Education Department, Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reported that the department has not received any intimation by the government regarding the reopening of colleges and universities so far.

“As of now, we have not got any intimation with regard to reopening of Colleges and Universities from the government,” the official said.

The official further said, “Until the government will issue any new guidelines, we cannot take any decision as to whether we will reopen the institutions or continue with online mode.”

“The colleges, however, are open for research, guidance and counselling. Even the students visit their colleges to collect notes and study material but regular classwork has not been started yet,” the official said.

Pertinently, the University of Kashmir (KU) in October said the academic activities of the ongoing academic session will continue even during the winter vacations to compensate the academic losses due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier in September, the University Grants Commission (UGC) ordered UNIVERSITIES and colleges to commence classes for the new academic session 2020-21 from November 1 for first-year undergraduate and postgraduate students.

UGC also directed the universities and colleges to complete the admission process by October 31. KNO