Universities are currently unable to meet COVID-19 health guidelines: IUSF
View(s):Universities currently do not have the necessary infrastructure facilities to protect students from COVID-19 if they reopen fully, the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) claimed recently.
IUSF Convener Ven. Rathkarawwe Jinarathana Thera said most of the universities do not have adequate hostel facilities for social distancing to be practiced correctly.
“University administrators are restricting students and claiming that these restrictions are necessary to minimise the spread of COVID-19. But the reality is, these restrictions cannot be implemented as most universities lack the necessary infrastructure facilities,” the Thera said.
For example, the University of Sri Jayewardenepura had 14, 000 students but its hostel facilities could accommodate only 5000 students. If the authorities had to take steps to allocate one room for each student, as the COVID-19 prevention health guidelines recommend, only 1000-2000 students could be accommodated, he said.
Meanwhile, universities such as the Rajarata University and the Eastern University suffer from severe water shortages in the dry season, the Thera said.
“They don’t have enough water to drink, let alone for frequent hand-washing. How are they going to manage?” he asked.
The Thera urged authorities to give these issues urgent attention if they are serious about fully reopening the universities.
(SJ)