#Reopencolleges: Maharashtra students await restart of campus life

Photo for representational purpose. File Pic

While there is a growing demand for reopening of schools, now college students are also looking forward to restarting their campus life. Collegians across Maharashtra took to Twitter with #reopencolleges.

While schools have reopened at least in rural areas of Maharashtra where there are no Covid-19 cases, colleges continue with blanket closure across the state. According to students, when everything is reopening, even colleges can reopen with additional precautions and regulations. With the hashtag to reopen colleges; students are tweeting to the Higher and Technical Education minister Uday Samat with their request.

"It is a huge loss for us not only in education but also in terms of ensuring a good future for us. Our career depends on higher education," stated Atul Dalvi, a student from Palghar, adding that missing college is of more loss than missing schools. Dalvi also shared how practical oriented courses such as engineering cannot be completed successfully with just online mode.

Akshay Rathod, a student from Pune shared, "Bars and restaurants can begin business but colleges are still closed. What is more important? There could be specific strict rules to reopen colleges but a blanket closure across state is really hampering education plans."

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Another student, Mayur Kshirsagar from Vashi shared, "Higher educational courses have equally high fee structures. We are expected to pay the full amount but learning is happening only online. Without practical knowledge, the course remains incomplete." Online petitions too have been started by students on the platform of change.org.

According to students, it is high time that the higher education department looks at revisiting its stand on colleges. Students suggest that just for schools, even for colleges at local district level decisions can be taken. "Already with all other activities reopened where college-going students can go. Then why not colleges? That will be productive," said Sunita Sharma, a parent from Kandivali.

Adding to this another parent Rajesh Lakhotia, said, "College-going children are mostly above 18 which means they are all eligible for vaccines. If after completing two doses of vaccine, a person is allowed a universal pass; then why not reopen colleges for those who have completed their vaccine dose? It is time to work on the model of reopening of colleges."

Recently, Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education minister Uday Samat suggested that the new academic year will begin in November. But at the same time, he clarified that it will be decided whether it will be online or offline. "Reopening of colleges post Diwali is under discussion. However, the department is waiting to understand concerns of the third wave as it hits. This will help in taking decisions," shared a senior official from the Higher and Technical Education department of Maharashtra.