While most private engineering colleges have decided to resume classes next week, government colleges are awaiting a notification from the Higher Education Department to reopen.
“Many engineering colleges reopened on March 25 and have held regular classes since then. These colleges have not been pulled up for not following Anna University’s instructions. And we feel we are missing out, as we have not been able to begin classes,” said the principal of an engineering college that has asked its students to come in on Monday.
A professor from a deemed university that has not closed for even a single day since the protests began, said they had consulted students before taking the decision.
“Our students wanted classes to go on . They did not want a shortened study break or vacation. With exams starting from April 14, we did not want the students to lose out on finishing the syllabus,” he added.
The dean of a group of engineering colleges said that only students participating in cultural activities and sports events have been asked to report on Monday.
“After a meeting with teachers, we decided to get done with extra-curricular activities next week, so that we can resume classes without disruptions once all colleges are officially asked to reopen,” he said.
Sources at the higher education department said a notification was likely to be sent to colleges after a meeting on March 31.
Meanwhile, many deemed universities have sent emails to students to come back to hostels as classes are likely to begin on Monday.
Arts and sciences colleges are however, still waiting for instructions from the Directorate of College Education.
“If not written orders, we need at least a telephonic call to confirm the date. We cannot go ahead without that,” said an arts professor. We just hope the students are given some travel time because most of our students have gone to their hometowns and it will take some time for them to come back to the city,” he added.
