Karnataka govt formulates SOPs prior to starting colleges on November 17
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Monday said it has formulated Standard Operating Procedures to be in place when degree, engineering, and diploma colleges in the state reopen from November 17 after a nearly eight-month gap.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr. C N Ashwath Narayan, who holds the higher education portfolio, said in a statement that the SOPs as per UGC guidelines have separate advisories for first, second and final year students, as per which classes would be held.
Final year students wishing to physically attend classes would have to furnish a consent letter from their parents in the prescribed format, he said.
During the classes, social distancing would have to be maintained as per the guidelines of the health department.
Narayan said teaching, practical and project classes should be conducted on a shift system, if necessary.
However, if students wished to attend online classes, contact classes should be conducted every day to help them clarify any doubts and resolve their problems.
Colleges will have to prepare the time table in such a manner as to allow social distancing, he said.
The teaching faculty should prepare the study material required for a month duration, based on each period or session, and compulsorily send it to students via Telegram, WhatsApp, or email.
"These study materials should be in the form of video lectures, PowerPoint Presentations, E-Notes, E-Books, Audio Books, Practice Questions, etc. It is also mandatory to upload the same study materials on the college website," he said.
Further, all students, excluding those in their final year or pursuing post-graduation, who attend online or contact classes, can stay in hostels located on-campus or off-campus.
Apart from these, the SOPs also have general guidelines on cleaning buildings, entrance, furniture, teaching materials by sanitizers, COVID-19 tests of teaching faculty, students, and non=teaching staff, Dr. Narayan said.
The schools and colleges in Karnataka have remained shut since the lockdown in March,
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BITS Pilani student killed, another injured as motorcycle collides with oil tanker in South Goa
Panaji (PTI): A 26-year-old student of BITS Pilani was killed, and another suffered grievous injuries after their motorcycle collided with an oil tanker in South Goa, police said on Sunday.
The accident occurred around 5.15 pm on Saturday near a junction at Upasnagar in the Zuari Nagar area, an official said.
He said that the tanker was heading towards Vasco town from Upasnagar when the driver, Pedro Ivo Medeira (66), allegedly took a right turn to enter another lane without ensuring the safety of the oncoming traffic.
The victim, Karan Narasimha Murthy, who was riding towards Verna from the BITS Pilani campus, crashed into the rear left side of the tanker.
Murthy and his friend, Soham Adhikari (26), another student of BITS Pilani, suffered grievous injuries and were rushed to a hospital, where the former succumbed to his injuries.
Adhikari is undergoing treatment at the Goa Medical College and Hospital in Bambolim, the official said, adding that the tanker driver was arrested and later released on bail.
