Teachers and students in Assam have welcomed Gauhati University’s decision to withdraw this year’s summer vacation, which would provide students time to catch up with their studies affected by the ongoing lockdown because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Scholars and students across the state demanded that classes be taken in all educational institutions during summer vacations.

The principal of Bhawanipur Hastinapur Bijni (BHB) College at Sarupeta in Barpeta district, Birinchi Kumar Das, told The Telegraph on Friday, “The withdrawal of summer vacation by the Gauhati University is a suitable decision as semester classes have already faced a serious setback because of the ongoing crisis and the losses can be recompensed, at least partially, if the month of summer vacation is fully and properly utilised.”

Associate professor in the education department of Lakhimpur Kendriya Mahavidyalaya, Jahnabee Lahkar Boruah, stressed on the need to announce the results of the final year on time as otherwise students would not be able to get admission in any university. “To make up the lockdown lag, it is necessary to follow the routine in a strict manner and give the summer vacation a miss,” she added.

Bishwajyoti Sharma, in-charge and head of chemistry department at Pragjyotika Junior College in Jorhat district, said, “A huge number of students appearing for classes X and XII board examinations are in trauma regarding admission to the next level. Many institutions are taking online classes but whether these classes are helping the students is yet to be seen,” he said.

Geeta Kashyap, a city-based teacher from Maligaon, said the decision will help students recover the studies they have lost because of the closure of educational institutions to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Nalbari-based teachers like Nandita Talukdar, Mukul Chandra Haloi, Jayanta Deka and many others, and several students, including Deepjyoti Deka of Jorhat Engineering College, Nilotpal Talukdar and Bituprativ Boruah of Gauhati University, Bijoy Shankar of Dhemaji, and others — appealed to the government to take a decision on summer vacation similar to GU. However, other teachers, including Nitul Kunar Dutta of Barpeta, Dibakar Renu of Dhubri and Chandan Taid of Nalbari, spoke about the necessity of summer vacations.