The undergraduate and postgraduate classes of Calcutta University in the next semester (even semester) will start on April 5 through the online mode, the university said on Tuesday.

The rise in the number of Covid-19 cases and the absence of any directive from the state government on reopening of campuses have prompted Presidency University to announce the start of online classes for the even semester from April 2.

Rabindra Bharati University will start online classes on April 8.

An official of Jadavpur University said classes for the even semester are likely to start in the online mode in the first week of April.

CU’s pro vice-chancellor (academic) Ashis Chatterjee asked the principals and the heads of all postgraduate departments on Tuesday to adhere to the September 24 UGC guidelines and start online classes on April 5.

The exams of the even semester will be held from August 9 to 21.

“The principals and the heads of the departments at the masters’ level have been informed about the schedule,” vice-chancellor Sonali Chakravarti Banerjee told Metro.

When asked about the mode of classes, she said: “Classes will continue to be held on digital platforms as the higher education department has not yet said anything about the resumption of on-campus classes.”

“We will soon draw the routine as advised by the university authorities,” Joydeep Sarangi, the principal of New Alipore College said.

Education minister Partha Chatterjee had on February 3 left it to the universities to decide when to start classes for the even semester and the mode of classes.

A VC who did not want to be named said there had been no improvement in the situation since the February meeting with Chatterjee.

“The situation has rather worsened since. We will keep opposing the resumption of in-person classes because we are not sure whether the physical distancing norm, a vital precautionary measure against Covid-19, could be followed in hostels, where each room is shared by as many as four students,” the VC said.