TURA: Don Bosco College, one of the premier institutions for higher education in the Garo Hills, has decided to restart its morning college starting this academic session to cater to the high number of students in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic which has stalled thousands of young minds from venturing out of the region.
“Keeping in mind the huge number of students who will seek admission from Garo Hills due to the pandemic, the college is reintroducing the morning batch to be able to help students to get admission. All those who enter the college premises have to wear face mask, undergo thermal scanning and compulsory hand sanitising,” announced Don Bosco College Principal, Fr Bivan Mukhim.
The college previously ran its morning session for ten years but a drop in the number of students coupled with poor results as well as an overstretched faculty that had to cater to both sides, compelled the college administration to shut it down, a few years back.
The college authorities have also expressed concern about the poor network connectivity in the rural areas of Garo Hills which is hindering students in their attempt to apply through the online admission system.
“Keeping with the directive of the Education department regarding admission processes and to avoid large gathering around the college premises we have made online application/admission compulsory for all applicants. The students can apply online through the college website www.donboscocollege.ac.in or can download the admission form and submit the hard copy to the college office.
“There is however concern with regard to online admission as many students, particularly from rural areas and border villages, are not having access to the internet. Many are first-time learners and couldn’t get any help from the parents and friends to do the online admission,” a worried Fr Bivan Mukhim noted.
He lamented that many students are compelled to seek help from cyber cafe operators in the towns where they have had to pay a hundred rupees just to fill up the online admission forms.
With little or no headway being made as far as ending the pandemic, the college authorities are bracing for a long haul as they prepare to usher in a record number of new students for the new academic session.
“We have been serving the people of Garo Hills for 33 years and will continue to give the best to the students post COVID-19. A standard operating procedure (SOP) is being developed by the college COVID-19 Task Force to ensure safety of all the students post lockdown and reopening of the college,” the Don Bosco College said.