Education minister Partha Chatterjee on Tuesday clarified to the vice-chancellors of state-aided universities that chief minister Mamata Banerjee had instructed closure of all educational institutions till April 15.

Despite an earlier order from the chief minister issued on Saturday, several colleges had remained open on Monday.

Minister Chatterjee said the institutions must remain shut in keeping with the chief minister’s announcement on extending the shutdown till April 15.

Employees could turn up only for essential services, he said.

“The institutions will remain closed till April 15. The teachers have to stay at home. The employees needed for essential services both in colleges and universities would have to turn up,” Chatterjee said.

“It has been decided by the chief minister, West Bengal, that the restriction imposed vide said communication is now being extended up to April 15 in public interest. Administrative departments of colleges/universities like the office of vice-chancellor, registrar, finance/examination department, head of the institute including emergency services e.g. electricity, cleanliness, water supply, security etc may remain open as per local need to be decided by the head of respective institute,” the higher education department’s order states.

The order instructs all hostels to remain closed till April 15 and adds that “adequate arrangements as per the medical protocol will be made by the respective institute for the foreign students who are not able to leave the campus due to distance or otherwise. No visitor should be allowed during the period to visit the hostel, without prior approval of the head of the institute”.

Presidency vice-chancellor Anuradha Lohia said the hostels will be vacated.

Libraries in colleges and the universities would also remain shut during the period.

A vice-chancellor called for clear instructions on the closure of institutions.

Teachers turned up for work in several colleges on Monday. Principals called up teachers and complained when they did not turn up on Monday.

“The confusion had stemmed from a notice that Manish Jain, the secretary of the school and higher education departments, had issued on Saturday hours after the chief minister’s office issued a release saying all educational institutions would remain closed from Monday till the end of month. Jain had mentioned ‘suspension of classes’ to combat the spread of novel coronavirus. Now we have a clear idea on how long we have to keep the institutions shut,” the VC said.

Several of the VCs who attended Tuesday’s meeting expressed concern about how they would complete the syllabus under the choice-based credit system, an official said.

“The VCs are worried about how the syllabus will be completed before the semester examinations in May. Classes will not be held for a month,” the official said.

The education department has instructed the VCs to keep hand sanitisers, soaps and handwash ready for employees who go to work.

“Hygiene has to be maintained at all cost. As the chief minister said prevention is the only cure against the coronavirus,” said the official.