The University Grants Commission (UGC) directed the universities and colleges to commence the first-year classes of under-graduate and post-graduate courses from November 1. But, conducting the teaching-learning process in multiple modes is much easier said than done.The UGC has stated in its revised guidelines on Academic Calendar for the session 2020-21 that the teaching-learning process may continue in offline, online, or blended mode. The UGC has also said that if there is a delay in declaring the results of the qualifying examinations, the universities may plan and start the academic session by November 18. The schools have already opened for voluntary offline classes from Class-IX to Class-XII under a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) notified by the Central government with additional guidelines by the States. The MHA has allowed the colleges and universities only to conduct the final-year and final-semester examinations as directed by the UGC and in strict adherence of the SOP issued by the Ministry of Health. The UGC asked the universities and colleges to conduct the final-year examinations either online or offline or in the blended mode. The MHA will have to clarify if the first-year classes in the offline mode will also be allowed. In the revised alternative calendar, the admissions to the first-year programmes for the session 2020-21 will be completed by the end of October. The last date for admissions to fill up the remaining vacant seats will be November 30. The new calendar has pushed the start of the first-year classes by about two months. The classes were planned to be started from September 1 according to the previous revised calendar which could not be followed due to the delay in holding the entrance examinations by various institutions. The UGC has advised all educational institutions to conduct six-days-a-week schedule and curtail the winter holidays and the summer break to make up for the loss due to the delay. It is going to be a jam-packed session for the teachers and students with preparatory back of one week from March 1 to 7, first semester examinations on March 8-26 and semester break from March 27 till April 4 next year. Classes will start from April 5 and commencement of the next academic session for this batch will be from August 30, 2021. Starting the offline classes is important for those students who do not have access to Internet connections or having connectivity issues.
Besides, health experts have also cautioned against adverse impact on mental health due to exposure to the digitalscreens forlong hours during online classes. Many students have also been expressing the view that they have not been able to learn much by attending the online classes. The UGC has claimed that online learning has emerged as a "revolutionary initiative" during the pandemic situation and there is "a need to sustain the momentum generated for online courses". A scientific assessment will bring out the realities in the backdrop of wide digital divide in rural and urban areas. For the educational institutions for higher education, more particularly the government run or aided with high intake of students, running the classes in multiple modes of teaching and learning is a huge challenge. In these institutions, the same set of teachers will have to conduct the classes in both the modes if the offline classes are allowed to start with the option given to students to opt for online classes or blended mode. In Assam, colleges have also opened for offline classes for Higher Secondary classes. However, the attendance is yet to pick up due to the apprehension gripping the parents that their children might be infected by the virus. The Health department will have to closely monitor the offline classes in schools and colleges to rule out the possibility that no student is infected. Keeping those attending offline classes protected from virus infection will be critical to building the trust and confidence among other students that offline classes can be safe if SOP on the safety protocols is strictly adhered to. Successful reopening of voluntary offline classes in schools and higher secondary classes in colleges in Assam will help parents and students of first year under-graduate and post-graduate students in the State make a proper assessment of the pandemic threats and decide accordingly. Multiple modes of teaching-learning carry the risk of widening the digital divide among the privileged and the underprivileged students. Restoration of normal offline classes, therefore, is important to ensue a level playing field for all students. The rising number of positive cases adding to the active cases despite the high rate of recoveries makes it difficult to predict when the prevailing pandemic situation is going to ease. A concerted effort by every section of the society to flatten the pandemic curve is the only way to prevent further academic losses of the students.