Coronavirus: IIT Delhi, DU suspend classes as IIMs defer convocation

• After unexpected school closures, the Delhi government has shut colleges and cinema halls as well.
  
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, University of Delhi and Indraprastha University also suspended classes for students. The university has also postponed internal assessments and seminars, amid the pandemic.
  
• IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Lucknow and Indore campuses postponed convocation ceremonies.

After unexpected school closures, the Delhi government has announced its decision to shut down colleges and cinema halls as well. As of now, the closures have been imposed until March 31.

“All educational institutions — schools, colleges, ITIs, polytechnics — shall remain closed till March 31, except for holding examinations. The students can be asked only to take board, term-end and semester examinations,” said Manish Sisodia, deputy CM of Delhi.

At first, all the primary schools in Delhi — both government-aided and private — were closed down until March 31 as a precautionary measure.

IIT, DU, IP University suspend classes

Now, premier institutions like Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, University of Delhi and Indraprastha University have also suspended classes. It also postponed internal assessments and seminars.

"In view of the COVID situation, IIT Delhi has decided to cancel all classes, examinations and public gatherings with immediate effect on the campus until March 31, 2020. Please inform all concerned", IIT Delhi Director V. Ramgopal Rao said in a tweet.

However, DU and IP university have asked the faculty staff to report to work. “To maintain continuity in the teaching-learning process, study material shall be made available on a weekly basis,” DU statement said.

The annual technical and entrepreneurial festival of the IIT, Kanpur, Techkriti-2020 has also been postponed.

This comes on the backdrop of India’s first coronavirus fatality in Karnataka— and the number of infectious cases also continues to increase. Of the total confirmed coronavirus cases in the country, six are in the national capital.

On the flipside, Jawaharlal Nehru University will continue to hold classes and Jamia Millia Islamia is waiting for directions from the ministry and UGC (University Grants Commission) for further action.

IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Lucknow and Indore postpones convocation

IIM’s Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Lucknow and Indore campuses also postponed the convocation ceremonies in the wake of coronavirus. The covcations,which were scheduled between March 20 and March 25 have been deferred. While the new dates are yet to be announced.

"In view of the advisories issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the World Health Organization to avoid large gatherings since the eruption of the COVID-19, we have decided to defer the Annual Convocation scheduled for 21st March 2020. The decision has been taken to preclude any risks to students and their extended families and friends as well as to the faculty and employees of the Institute,” IIM Ahmedabad told IANS.

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