Gauhati University has withdrawn the summer vacation for its students as well as in its affiliated colleges and institutes, which usually starts in July, in view of the Covid-19 outbreak.

“In view of such an unprecedented situation and considering the seriousness with which we need to address all the related issues as mentioned, Gauhati University hereby announces that the coming summer vacation which falls in the month of July 2020 is hereby withdrawn for the university classes and its affiliated colleges/institutes unless otherwise notified, depending on the success of containment of spread of Covid-19,” said the notification issued by the registrar on Thursday.

Educational institutions across the country are closed from March 24 because of the lockdown.

All regular activities will resume once the situation is declared as congenial by the Centre and state government as applicable, it added.

There are about 341 affiliated colleges offering undergraduate and post-graduate courses in arts, science, commerce, law and engineering under the university, which is a member of the Association of Indian Universities and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

Several students and teachers across the state have welcomed the decision to withdraw the summer vacation as it would aid in completing backlog academic activities.

There is also a chance the education department might take a similar decision to withdraw the summer vacation in schools as education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has hinted several times.

Tripura move

The Tripura education department on Thursday decided to cancel the scheduled summer vacation in educational institutions.

Education minister Ratan Lal Nath said in view of the pandemic and lockdown, the department took a collective decision for the benefit of students in schools and colleges.

“Several decisions were taken for the betterment of students across the state in a high-level meeting on Wednesday. We have decided to cancel the scheduled summer vacation as the state is already under lockdown since March 24. We had closed our all institutions on March 17 much before the announcement of the lockdown. How long the lockdown will continue is unknown. Hence, the summer vacation has been cancelled. We are planning to resume the classes after the lockdown ends,” Nath said.

Nath had chaired a high-level meeting with department secretary Saumya Gupta, school education director U.K. Chakma and higher education director Saaju Waheed.

On the Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE) exams, Nath said they would soon start the evaluation of those papers, which were completed before the lockdown.

“Soon, we will start checking all answer scripts, which will be collected from across the state and brought here. The teachers will be checking and evaluating them at 15 centres here, maintaining social distance. The department will try not to bring teachers from outside the city. Teachers having their own vehicles will be given a pass and those teachers who don’t will be provided transport by the government,” he said.

Nath said some exams of Madhyamik and higher secondary which were halted due to the lockdown would be held later.

He also said his department has started online coaching classes to help school students complete their syllabus.

Additional reporting by Tanmoy Chakraborty in Agartala