THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The colleges which were closed due to the Covid crisis in the state will be reopened today after 294 days. Classes will resume for research, PG and final year graduate students in all colleges and universities. Admission is for 50 percent of students at a time. The colleges will also be open on Saturdays.

The working hours are from 8.30 am to 5 pm by following Covid protocol. The classes will last for a maximum of five hours. Principals should make arrangements for this. Colleges are also free to conduct classes in two shifts if required.

Seventh Semester B.Tech, Ninth Semester B.Arch, Third Semester M.Tech, M.Arch, M.Plan, Fifth Semester MCA and Ninth Semester Integrated MCA Classes will be started in the colleges under the Technical University. Only final year PG classes at CUSAT will start today.

Classes will focus on subjects and practical classes where online classes are not possible. Hostel messes will work. The state government has also given permission to start classes in residential campuses like Kozhikode-IIM, Palakkad-IIT, Thiruvananthapuram IISER and IIST with precautionary measures prescribed by the UGC. Minister Jaleel today has called for an online meeting of college principals as part of the reopening.