Violence during the hartal and blockade programs of the last two months has taken over 100 lives, including those of students and teachers.
It is right that university authorities be expected to keep as their highest priority the safety of all students and staff at educational institutions.
Different universities have taken different approaches to addressing the very real disruption to transport and fear of violence brought about by the political crisis. Most educational institutions have been taking classes on hartal-free Fridays and Saturdays, while some public universities have been holding classes on hartal days on a limited basis.
In all cases, it is understandable that student attendance remains lower than normal, and it is deeply regrettable that exams have had to be postponed.
As a nation, we cannot to allow this type of costly disruption to higher education to go on indefinitely.
We believe there is merit in the proposal discussed by the board of the University Grants Commission to issue directives to the vice-chancellors of all public and private universities to stay open during the ongoing hartal and blockade programmes.
The UGC is right to to take a lead in trying to overcome the prospect of further delays to exams and teaching sessions.
In the absence of a political settlement to lift the fear of violence, it is important for the government to ensure and provide more security for staff and students at universities, so institutions can take a more pragmatic approach to coping with hartals.
