New Delhi: On Wednesday, the union government gave flexibility to the states and territories of the union to open schools, colleges as of October 15 in a phased manner and on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the management of the educational institute.
According to the Unlock 5 rules issued Wednesday by the Home Office, institutions should not insist on regular attendance and should allow students who wish to continue studying in online mode.
“For the reopening of schools and training institutions, the state / UT governments have had the flexibility to make a decision after October 15, 2020, in a phased manner. The decision will be made in consultation with the management of the respective school / institution, based on their assessment of the situation, “the new unlocking rules indicated.
However, he made it clear that online and distance learning will continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and will be encouraged.
“When schools conduct classes online, and some students prefer to attend classes online rather than physically attending school, they may be allowed to do so,” he said, adding that students can attend regular school or institutions just with written parental consent and “Attendance must not be enforced.”
Unlike previous unlock rules, these new guidelines have said that states and UT will prepare their own permanent operating procedure.
“States / UTs will prepare their own SOP regarding health and safety precautions for the reopening of schools / institutions based on SOP to be issued by Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India, taking into consider local requirements. ” He said he added that schools, which are allowed to open, will have to follow the SOP.
India’s education system has been disrupted due to the pandemic that began on March 15 and affected nearly 300 million students in schools and universities.
The Department of Higher Education can make a decision on the time of the opening of Colleges / Institutions of Higher Education, in consultation with the Ministry of the Interior based on the assessment of the situation, the new guidelines said and reiterated that in space Higher education online learning will remain the preferred mode of teaching.
However, as of October 15, 2020, researchers and graduate students in science and technology who require laboratory and experimental work will be allowed to open. And for this, the director of the institution or university will ensure that “there is a genuine requirement of academic researchers and graduate students in science and technology for laboratory / experimental work”
For all other institutions of higher education, including a private one, the states and UT will accept the call even for researchers who resume laboratory work.
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