Colleges to resume offline classes from Monday, teachers and students who are reluctant to take vaccine should not be permitted to enter campuses: Higher Education Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Colleges in the state, including engineering colleges, will resume offline classes in full swing on Monday. Higher Education Minister R Bindu said that teachers and other college staff must ensure that Covid norms are strictly adhered to on the campuses. Classes of all semesters will be held simultaneously on campuses after a long hiatus caused by the Covid crisis. Meanwhile, certain parts of the state are continuing to receive heavy rainfall. Considering both, heads of educational institutions have been asked to remain cautious to ensure the safety of students.

The decisions regarding the timing and shifts will be made by the respective institutions as per the instructions given earlier. Heads of institutions should ensure that the recommendations made by the government regarding vaccination are being implemented. This should be done under the supervision of Covid Jagratha Samitis.

Students aged below 18, who have not taken the vaccine, and students who were yet to take the second dose of the vaccine should be permitted to enter the institutions. However, it must be ensured that family members of these students have taken the vaccine. The minister also said that those teachers and students who are reluctant to take the vaccine should not be permitted to enter the campuses.