Unlock5: Participation should depend entirely on parental consent, Center said (Representation)
New Delhi:
States and Union Territories can decide whether they want to reopen schools, colleges and coaching institutes after October 15 in a phased manner, the government said today in its latest “Unlock5” announcement at amid the coronavirus pandemic. “The decision will be taken in consultation with the management of the respective school / institution, based on their assessment of the situation,” the interior ministry said.
The government has said that online and distance learning should remain the preferred mode of education, however. “When schools run online classes and some students prefer to take online classes rather than physically attending school, they may be allowed to do so,” the government said. “Pupils can only attend schools / institutions with the written consent of parents,” he says.
Attendance should not be imposed and should depend entirely on parental consent, and states and Union territories will establish their own standard operating procedures (SOPs) on health and safety precautions before reopening schools and facilities. colleges.
“Schools, which are licensed to open, will be required to follow SOPs to be issued by state departments of education / UTs.” Department of Higher Education (DHE), the Ministry of Education may make a decision on when to open colleges / higher education institutions, in consultation with the Ministry of Interior (MHA), based on the assessment of the situation. Online / distance education will remain the preferred mode of education and will be encouraged, ”the government said.
However, higher education institutions reserved for university researchers (PhD) and postgraduate students in science and technology requiring laboratory work and experimental work will be allowed to open from October 15. “For centrally funded higher education institutions, the head of the institution will satisfy herself that there is a real requirement of researchers (PhD) and postgraduate students in science and technology for the work of laboratory / experimental, ”the government said.
“For all other higher education institutions, eg state universities, private universities, etc., they can only be open to university researchers (PhD) and postgraduate students in the field of science and technology requiring laboratory / experimental work in accordance with the decision to be taken by the concerned State / UT governments, ”the center said.
India’s COVID-19 tally crossed the 62 lakh mark with 80,472 new coronavirus cases and 1,179 deaths reported on Wednesday, according to data from the Ministry of Health. For the first time in 28 days, coronavirus deaths during the one-day period fell below 1,000, according to government data.
