Bengaluru: The Universities and Colleges must continue online classes for all even semesters of UG programmes. Commencement of offline classes will be reviewed once the COVID situation eases, noted Deputy Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister Dr. C.N. Ashwathnarayan.

Even those Universities and Colleges which have not completed odd semester exams of UG programmes must continue online classes for even semesters (2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th) as carryover system exists in most of the programmes. The remaining exams of odd semesters of UG programmes can be conducted/ scheduled once the pandemic situation comes under control, he told media yesterday.

In cases where there are some restrictions on carryover to higher semesters, may be in Engineering and professional courses, the Vice-Chancellors/ Principals must work out details in consultation with Karnataka State Higher Education Council.

On Post-Graduate programmes, the Minister said, “Admission processes for the first semesters were delayed in some Universities due to COVID situation. But the third-semester classes have been completed in many of the Universities. In some Universities, examinations had started. Therefore, in respect of PG programmes, in Universities where classes of the odd semester are completed and only examinations are pending, they must continue online classes for even semesters. The examinations of odd semesters can be conducted/ scheduled once the situation becomes normal.”

In Universities where odd semester classes are not completed, Dr. Ashwathnarayan said, they should continue the classes through online mode. After the odd semester classes are completed, if the COVID situation still persists making it difficult to conduct examinations, they must start online classes for even semesters, immediately after the completion of odd semester classes. Examination of odd semester classes can be conducted/ scheduled once Corona cases come down.

“As and when things develop, the situation will be reviewed in consultation with the Vice-Chancellors and the Karnataka State Higher Education Council to rework guidelines and schedules for implementation in all the Colleges and Universities,” he said.