The Odisha government has decided to shorten the summer vacation period in all higher educational institutions, including state government universities, to compensate for the academic days lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a letter sent to state government universities, government and non-degree colleges, teacher education institutions, Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, Shaswat Mishra said that this year the holiday will be only for a brief period from June 1 to June 16. Earlier summer vacation used to be of 45 days.
“By shortening the summer vacation, it is expected that higher educational institutions will complete all their academic activities on time,” the letter said. If the need is felt, additional classes should be taken on holidays and working days by suitably increasing the teaching period. Earlier, the Department of School and Mass Education had announced to reduce the summer vacation of schools. This time there will be summer vacation in schools from 6th to 16th June. Earlier it used to be around 50 days.