In the wake of increasing cases of Covid-19 in the state, the Tamil Nadu government on Monday ordered only online classes for all educational institutions under the Higher Education Department and deemed universities, starting from March 23, with six working days. The semester exams shall also be conducted online.

A Government Order was issued after Chief Secretary Rajeev Ranjan held discussions with Vice Chancellors, all of whom opined that the classes can be conducted online amid rising cases of Covid-19 across the state. The GO read, "The Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has also opined that there are reports emerging of clusters from colleges/hostels and considering trends in many states, these clusters have the potential to spread disease in their place of residence and surrounding community. All practical classes and practical examinations for science/engineering/polytechnic stream students shall be completed before March 31, 2021, especially for the final semester students. The semester examination will be an online examination." All colleges in Tamil Nadu were reopened on Feb 8 this year after closing down in March 2020.

The announcement comes just days after the state government ordered schools to shut physical classes for classes 9, 10 and 11. "As per the recommendations of the expert team of doctors and public health specialists and based on the directives of the government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, state-wide lockdown was extended from time to time. Now, the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has stated that in the light of the increasing trend of COVID cases from a Public Health point of view it would not be advisable to continue the classes at least for classes 9, 10 and 11," the GO had mentioned.