Rajasthan College Attendance Grows Since 1 September Opening

Earlier in the year, the Rajasthan Education Ministry decided to reopen college campuses, schools, and coaching institutes on 1 September 2021. Thus, class IX to postgraduate-level students could attend offline classes in a 50% capacity after months of online learning. The state finalised the decision after Rajasthan’s CM, Ashok Gehlot, voted in approval of the ministry’s recommendation to resume academics.

Nevertheless, authorities have set rigorous SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for all participants to follow. These guidelines include the 50% maximum capacity, which will lessen the density of occupants within shared spaces. Additionally, no morning assemblies will take place to discourage crowding.

Furthermore, all Rajasthan college faculty (both teaching and non-teaching) had to receive at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination a fortnight before returning to their campuses. This ruling also applies to educational transportation workers such as bus, train, and rickshaw drivers. Meanwhile, all coaching institute staff must have full vaccinations to return to their locations. A large number of students remain too young to qualify for the vaccine. However, those above 18 were also strongly recommended to vaccinate.

Officials will monitor cases for each region of the state, and in-person learning will remain optional. A designated learning institution representative must consistently upload data regarding student symptoms to a centralised portal. This measure aims to reduce the impact of spikes. The relevant ministers have yet to decide whether to allow class I to VIII students to return to school. However, a consensus will likely be available soon.

By the spring of 2021, officials had shuttered educational institutions in the state once more due to the resurgence of the pandemic. At the time, a group of authorities had obtained appointments to judge when the environment would be safe enough for offline activities.