September 9, 2020 4:03:31 pm
Schools and universities will reopen in a staggered manner from September 21 (express photo by Partha Paul / Representational)
The Ministry of Health has allowed schools, colleges and higher schools to Education institutes will reopen from September 21However, the new session in the educational institutes will be different from everything we know so far. The changes go beyond wearing masks or maintaining social distancing. These are the key things you need to know:
Who will be allowed: Not everyone will be called to campus immediately. For schools, it is students in classes 9 through 12 who have the option of attending classes offline. Schools will open only as support for students who do not have access to online education or are facing problems. Also in the case of universities, students enrolled in skill institutes, PhD scholars, graduate students, and those with practical aspects of their studies will be called to campus first as the institutes reopen in stages.
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What will be the mode of education? Schools and universities have not been asked to switch to physical education. Both should continue online education and a hybrid model will be followed. In the official statement, the Ministry of Health has asked both schools and universities to renew their academic calendars to avoid overcrowding on campuses. “Academic programming should have a mix of regular classroom instruction and online teaching / assessments,” per standard operating principles (SOP).
What will open access be: Shared access areas will not be available at all times. While the labs are open, the trainee or team will stay six feet apart. The gyms will be open with limited capacity and the swimming pools of the colleges and schools will be closed. For schools, no congregations will be allowed, including morning prayer assemblies. Sharing objects between students or between students and teachers is also prohibited.
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Which universities and schools will open: Only those schools and universities that are outside the containment zones will be allowed to operate, per government rules. Students, teachers, and employees living in containment zones will not be allowed on campuses. Employees who are at high risk, including older people, pregnant mothers and people who have illnesses, cannot be called to campus.
How to reopen: Prior to reopening, all campuses will need to undergo a thorough cleaning, especially those campuses that became COVID centers. Institutes will have to clean their campuses with substances that have one percent sodium hypochlorite solutions. Institutes that reopened have been asked to maintain a reserve of personal protection that includes face covers, masks, visors, hand sanitizers, etc. Campuses are also asked to avoid cash transactions and electronic wallets etc. can be promoted.
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