COVID-19: NSUI urges UGC to ensure colleges, universities conduct both online, offline classes

NEW DELHI: The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) has written to the University Grants Commission (UGC) urging it to ensure that all colleges, universities across the country opt for both online and offline modes to conduct classes amid rising COVID-19 cases in India.

“The cases of covid are again increasing day-by-day. Once again, the panic situation is arising. As a precautionary step, UGC should ensure that all the universities and colleges campuses should opt for both online and offline modes. It should not be mandatory for the students to attend classes in offline mode,” the letter said.

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The Union said since the vaccination programme has just commenced, risk should not be taken about their health. UGC should also ensure that all COVID-19 protocols are in place while conducting classes. COVID-19 cases are ticking upwards and still several teachers are not vaccinated which increases the possibility of spreading of the virus, NSUI argued.

“We are in the third year of the pandemic and still, no unique and specialised evaluation policy has been formed for the students,” the Union stated.

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The board exams are scheduled to be held in the months of February and March across the country. The Union demanded a separate policy to be made to save another year of the students and to assess them on an alternative basis. It will help students prepare for entrance exams.

Finally, NSUI urged UGC to take a quick decision so that assessment of the students can be done on time.