Colleges and universities in Bengal will not reopen for in-person classes in the ongoing semester that will end in March, education minister Partha Chatterjee said on Wednesday after a meeting with vice-chancellors. Several VCs opposed the resumption of in-person classes at this point of time on the ground that they were not sure whether the physical distancing norm, a key precautionary measure against Covid-19, could be followed in hostels, where each room is shared by multiple students. “The vice-chancellors unanimously suggested that the classes of the ongoing odd-semesters (first, third, fifth and seventh semesters at the undergraduate level) be held online. We have accepted their suggestion. The semester will end in March,” Chatterjee said after the meeting.