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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Human skeletal remains found in Bengaluru outskirts
Bengaluru (PTI): Human skeletal remains, including a skull, suspected to be that of a woman were discovered in and around a lake on outskirts of the city, police said on Saturday.
The matter came to light after shepherds spotted the remains near the lake at Mugalur near Sarjapur while grazing cattle in the area and alerted the police, they said.
During the inspection, investigators found bones scattered across the dried lake bed and nearby areas, a senior police officer said, adding there was suspicion that the remains must be at least three months old.
Police suspect the victim may have drowned in the lake earlier, with the skeletal remains surfacing after water levels receded significantly during the summer.
Officials also suspect stray dogs could have dragged some of the remains to surrounding areas after the lake dried up further.
With pieces of a saree recovered from the spot, police suspect that it could have been of a woman.
Forensic experts and the Scene of Crime Officer team visited the spot and collected the skeletal remains and other evidence for examination.
A case has been registered and the remains, along with other evidence, have been sent for forensic analysis, the police officer said.
The identity of the deceased and the exact cause of death are yet to be established, he added.
