Kerala’s colleges reopen today

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s colleges and other higher educational institutions reopened on Monday after being closed for over a year and a half due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, all final year students, faculty, and staff who have received at least the first dose of the vaccination can attend classes.

While classes for students in their final year/semester begin on October 4, the rest of the classes begin on October 18.

State Health Minister Veena George urged students to strictly adhere to the COVID-19 health protocol while attending college, stating that the pandemic has not been eradicated. “On campus, everyone should wear masks and maintain social distance. Gatherings should be avoided, and no pens, pencils, books, or other materials should be exchanged “According to a press release issued by George.

She instructed students and staff to use hand sanitizer and wash their hands with soap at regular intervals.

If students or staff have a fever, cough, or other similar symptoms, the Health Department has asked them not to come to the institutions.

Students and faculty are also instructed to wash their clothes worn to college as soon as they arrive home.

The Higher Education Department and the Health Department have been tasked with ensuring that all students have been vaccinated before the colleges reopen. The Higher Education Department has compiled a list of students who have not been immunised, and the Health Department will hold vaccination camps for them.

The district Collectors have directed college officials to notify them if there is a need for vaccination drives on campus.

On September 7, Vijayan announced that higher education institutions, including technical, polytechnic, and medical schools, would be allowed to reopen on October 4 for final-year students.

The Chief Minister, on the other hand, stated that the re-opening would be contingent on all final-year students, faculty, and staff receiving at least the first dose of vaccination.

V Sivankutty, the General Education Minister, met with various student and teacher organisations today to discuss the re-opening of schools on November 1.

In a press release, Sivankutty stated that all organisations have supported the decision to reopen the schools.

“It will be considered to accommodate students from schools that will be unable to reopen on November 1 due to a variety of factors in nearby schools. The final guidelines for the re-opening of the schools will be issued by October 5 “Sivankutty explained.