Punjab Government on Monday decided to reopen all the government aided and non-aided colleges including all the government and private universities from January 21 (Thursday).

All the higher educational institutes have to follow the guidelines issued by the Punjab Government regarding COVID-19 from time to time. For the same, the state Higher Education Department has issued a detailed letter to all the universities and colleges.

“As per the guidelines issued by the Government in the interest of the students, the educational institutions should conduct classes through both offline and online medium and conduct the semester or annual examinations through offline medium only,” said the official spokesperson of the Punjab Government.

At the same time, students would be allowed to take classes as per their choice and no institute should compel the students to attend the classes physically, added the spokesperson.

The spokesperson said that hostels should be opened in the universities and colleges following the instructions of COVID-19, and the hostel rooms should be allotted per student or according to the size of the room keeping in view the required distance or safety of the students and priority should be given to final year students at the time of allotment. The mess or canteens etc in the educational institutions should be opened as per the instructions of the Health Department taking all necessary safety measures.

Spokesperson said that it is mandatory for all the Universities and Colleges to ensure compliance of all the guidelines or instructions issued by the Punjab Government, Central Government, and the Higher Education Department regarding COVID-19 from time to time in view of the safety of the students.