Pupils in class 9 to 12 can come to schools on a voluntary basis (representation)
Guwahati:
Assam and Nagaland are set to gradually reopen schools, which have been closed since the national coronavirus lockdown began five months ago, starting Monday, in accordance with the question of the ‘Unlock’ guidelines. By the center at the beginning of the month.
In Assam, teachers and non-teaching staff will be allowed to work from schools. Students above class 9 will be allowed to attend on a voluntary basis. Classes for other students (including those who choose not to attend) will continue online.
The government of Assam has published a list of guidelines and SOPs (standard operating protocols) to follow. These will come into effect from tomorrow and will be operational for the next 15 days.
Nagaland has also opened in-class classes for students in grades 9-12.
Meghalaya has also posted SOPs but will not have classes at the school at this time.
According to the Assam government’s SOP, students who choose to return to school must be provided with a certificate of no objection from their parents.
Classes 9 and 12 will be allowed in schools only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, classes 10 and 11 being allowed on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Each class will be divided into two lots with no more than 20 students. The first batch will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and the second batch will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Teachers and other staff will also be called in on a staggered basis – three to four hours a day – to ensure social distancing. However, people with serious conditions and illnesses identified as co-morbidities were exempted.
Online classes will continue for all other students, the Assam government said.
Nagaland has issued a SOP which states that up to 50 percent of teaching and non-teaching staff residing outside containment zones can be called into schools for online courses, tele-counseling and related work.
Students in Grades 9 to 12 can visit their schools to get advice from their teachers. However, this will be done on a voluntary basis and only in areas outside of containment areas. Students must also have the written consent of parents or guardians.
In Meghalaya, schools will be open to students in grades 9 to 12 to meet with teachers to dispel doubts, but there will be no regular lessons or classroom sessions.
The Home Office has yet to release guidelines for lower grades, as children under 10 are considered particularly vulnerable to the virus.
The center has also issued guidelines and SOPs for interaction in schools, such as maintaining a six-foot distance, using masks and hand sanitizers, and washing hands.
