West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee announced on Sunday that there are currently no plans to resume classes in colleges and universities across the state. Following a virtual meeting with Vice-Chancellors of state universities, Chatterjee emphasized that, due to the ongoing pandemic, campuses cannot be opened for students at this time.
He stated that classes will continue to be conducted online, expressing the opinion of the higher education department, which, after consulting with Vice-Chancellors, believes that conducting classes on campuses is not feasible given the prevailing pandemic situation.
Furthermore, Chatterjee mentioned that higher educational institutions have the option to extend the admission process by an additional 15 days at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The curriculum for undergraduate and postgraduate courses will be shortened in consultation with the respective university authorities. Responding to a query, Chatterjee acknowledged that if the situation demands, the first semester may also be conducted online.
It is noteworthy that the government had previously considered starting on-campus activities in various state-run higher educational institutions from December 1, as mentioned in October, contingent upon the evolving pandemic situation. However, the latest decision indicates a cautious approach, prioritizing the safety of students and staff by continuing with online learning for the time being.