Teachers, staff, researchers are to work from home till 31 July: MHRD

July 2: Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) in a circular issued on 30 July to University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), National Testing Agency (NTA) and all other autonomous organisations under DHE, MHRD directed that teachers, researchers, non-teaching staff should be permitted and advised to work from home till 31 July, 2020.

Citing the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Unlock 2.0 guidelines, MHRD directed that colleges and educational institutions will remain closed till 31 July, 2020. The circular has also said that online or distance learning “shall continue to be permitted and shall be encouraged”. It was also stated that the Faculty members/ Teachers/ Researchers should utilize this period for various academic activities.

The said period will be counted as being on duty for all teachers or researchers and non-teaching staff including ad-hoc and contract teachers whose contracts are valid at least up-to July 31. It was also stated that Aarogya Setu App enables easy identification of potential risk of infection and, therefore, it may be ensured that Aarogya Setup App is installed by the students, faculty and employees to fight against COVID-19.

However, in case of any exigency, any faculty member or non-teaching staff may attend or be asked to attend the educational institution with all precautionary measures as mentioned in the guidelines issued by MHA/MHFA. The Faculty members/ Teachers/ Researchers/ Non-teaching staff were directed to provide their contact details to their institutions so that they may be contacted in case of emergency.

The ministry has also asked the Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories to consider similar guidelines for the higher educational institutions under their control.