Schools Reopening in India: Several states on Monday reopened schools outside containment zones with strict COVID-19 protocols. While Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Sikkim, resumed normal classes in a graded manner, Delhi, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra have decided not to reopen schools as the novel coronavirus cases continue to surge.
Also read: Indian Railways to operate 416 festival special trains from tomorrow
School managements have said that they are prepared to resume classes while ensuring strict adherence to COVID-19 protocol including limiting attendance in the classes to 50 percent per day for the sake of social distancing.
The schools, for various activities, will have to strictly comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) laid down by the Union ministries of education and health, as well as the protocols set by the state.
Uttar Pradesh:
Schools for students of classes 9 to 12 outside containment zones will reopen from October 19.
Classes will be held in shifts and all necessary protocols including social distancing and proper sanitization of premises will have to be followed by schools.
Students will only be allowed to attend classes after furnishing written permission from their parents or guardians, the government said.
Schools will run in shifts and proper attention will be paid to the health of students.
In the first shift, classes for 9 and 10 standards will be held.
Classes for 11 and 12 standards will be held in the second shift.
50 percent of the students will be called in every class on one day and the remaining 50 percent the next day.
Students will sit at a distance of 6 feet from each other.
Directives have also been issued to continue online teaching and encouraging it. Priority should be given to calling those students to school who do not have access to online teaching.
Punjab:
In Punjab, schools for students of Classes 9 to 12 will reopen in the areas outside containment zones in the state from October 19. Schools will open for three hours a day and only students of Classes 9 to 12 will be allowed entry to take physical classes.
And while schools will be reopened from tomorrow, the online learning classes shall continue to be the preferred mode of teaching, and attendance of all students will not be mandatory.
Students will be able to attend the physical classes only with the written consent of parents.
Parents will be required to ensure that their ward wears a face mask in the school. In addition, they also need to make their children aware of not exchanging the masks with others.
If the strength of the students is large in the school and social distancing norms are not maintainable, in that case, the school head or management may take a decision on whether to hold the classes in two shifts or call the students at alternate days, at their own level.
Sikkim:
In Sikkim, the government has decided to reopen all schools from October 19 in a graded manner. The winter holidays will be done away with completely this year, and classes will be held six days a week, with Saturday being a half day. All notified government holidays, however, will be in place.
The current academic session will conclude by February 13, 2021, and the next will commence two days after, on February 15.
A calendar has been prepared by the state education department, going by which the institutes will have to make certain arrangements before reopening — such as compiling contact details of all parents and ensuring proper hygiene on the campus.
According to the calendar, students of classes 11 and 12 will be able to attend schools on a voluntary basis from October 19, but each of them will have to carry written permission from parents or guardians.
Similarly, classes, 6-8 will resume on November 2, and classes 3, 4, and 5 on November 23, all on a voluntary basis, and subject to the COVID-19 situation prevailing at that time.
Also read: ISRO Recruitment 2020: Apply for Scientist, Engineer, Technician, and other posts
