As colleges reopen for final year students in Bengaluru, attendance remains scanty on campus

After eight months of closure, colleges in the state finally opened their gates for final year students on Tuesday. Colleges were seen welcoming a meagre number of students back on campuses — students were thermally screened, hands sanitised and allowed inside in an orderly manner. As expected, the turnout for students was poor, however, several who couldn't produce their COVID-19 negative certificate were also seen flocking to the nearby primary health care centres.

The BBMP, which is arranging for 450 swab collection centres near colleges across the city, also estimated the first-day attendance would not cross 30 per cent. The recent notice about a mandatory COVID-19 test report was a cause for confusion among several students. More than 100 students who reported to Swami Vivekananda College without their tests were sent to the nearest Primary Health Centre that was linked to their college, for getting a COVID-19 test done. Out of the 450 final year students, the college saw 15 per cent attendance, Dr BG Bhaskar, Principal, Vivekananda Degree College told TNIE.

Even as the debate continues over whether or not lecturers in colleges should be wearing masks when delivering classes, professors in Maharani College were seen wearing masks. However, the big reopening on Tuesday was not a first for all institutes. "Most of the classes have been completed online. Students have been coming to campus for practical classes when they had the need for it. And they were also accommodated in the guest house and hostels," said the registrar of Christ deemed-to-be-University, Anil Pinto. The institute has already scheduled its online examinations for second and third-year students on December 2, and first-year students on December 12. The institute plans to open up with practical classes for the next semester in January.