Mumbai colleges, universities reopen; student turnout remains low

BMC has issued guidelines asking Colleges to call back only fully vaccinated students. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

After being closed for over one-and-a-half years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, colleges and universities in Mumbai resumed physical classes on Wednesday. However, student's turnover remained low due to several reasons like vaccination, local train woes and separate plans by individual colleges for restricted entry to ensure social distancing.

Even as the Maharashtra government has given a go-ahead to all degree colleges across the state to begin in-person classes, many Mumbai colleges have decided to wait for a couple of days to be fully prepared.

Sathaye College, Mumbai. Pic/Satej Shinde

Some colleges are conducting only science practical classes, while others are starting for first year degree students. The senior batches have online examination going on.

Many students are yet to get their second dose of Covid-19 vaccine and hence are not able to attend in-person classes, despite being excited about it.

Also read: Mumbai: Colleges to open fully only post-Diwali

Aryan Patil, a resident of Parel, was more than happy to be back to college campus. "Online lecture is just not the same. More so, it is fun to meet friends, get to laboratory assignments," said Aryan, who is pursuing first year BSc in Khalsa college.

Khalsa College, Mumbai. Pic/Pallavi

"Second year students have finished their entire first year through online classes. It is only now, after the first term of second year, they are on campus. That's a different excitement," said Prof. KPV Iyer, senior core faculty for professional courses at Khalsa College in Matunga.

The R. A. Podar college too reopened for in-person classes, but there were hardly any studentsin the campus. The HR college in SoBo however is going to take few days before beginning in-person classes as they have started collating data of status of vaccination of all students.

As per the government guidelines, students must be fully vaccinated.

Physical classes at Ramnarain Ruia College will resume from Thursday. However, Wilson college began science practical sessions today. "With Diwali vacation approaching just in a few days, it is better to begin with less number of students," said Dr. Anna Pratima Nikalje, Principal of the college.

Students are not happy about the cafeterias being shut in colleges. "We do have options to eat outside the campus, but they are expensive compared to college canteen. We already have restaurants functioning, then why not college canteens. Many in Mumbai come to colleges from faraway places," said another student.