Schools in some states will partially reopen beginning Monday after more than five months of lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The states are Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Nagaland, and Madhya Pradesh.
The Center had last week allowed the partial reopening of schools on a voluntary basis for classes 9 to 12 as of September 21 and issued the Standard Operating Procedure. However, online and distance learning would continue to be allowed and encouraged.
Physical distancing, masks, and disinfectants would be mandatory for all students, teachers, and other employees. Schools should operate with 50% of the total force, but students and teachers would not be allowed to live in containment zones. Only asymptomatic teachers, non-teaching staff, and students would be allowed on campus.
Delhi, Gujarat, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal have announced that they will not allow classes to resume from Monday. In Punjab, only institutes of higher education will reopen to graduate and doctoral students taking technical and professional courses that require them to undertake experimental work, according to the Hindustan Times.
Andhra Pradesh
In Andhra Pradesh, public and private schools that are not located in containment zones would reopen from Monday. Students would be allowed to visit their schools on a voluntary basis, but only to clear up their doubts from the teachers.
This facility is available only to students who live outside the containment zones and have a written consent from their parents or guardians. Regular classes will be closed until September 30.
Education Minister Adimulapu Suresh said the administration planned to reopen schools around October 5, according to The Hindu. “But the final decision will be made depending on the conditions of the pandemic and the Center’s Unlock 5.0 guidelines,” Suresh added. “This uncertainty is causing us all a lot of concern and we want normalcy to return to school campuses.”
Assam
Schools in Assam will reopen for students from Class 9 to Class 12 starting Monday amid strict guidelines issued by the state government.
Classes will resume from Monday for the next 15 days from which the situation will be reviewed again. While all public schools will reopen, private institutes have been asked to respond to a call to find out if they want to resume classes.
The secondary education department issued a standard operating procedure Wednesday to maintain physical distancing standards and other precautionary measures against the coronavirus outbreak. Each classroom will have no more than 20 students at a time. In addition to this, the school hours will be divided into two batches: from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 4 pm
Lessons would be held on a rotating basis. Classes for students in Class 11 and Class 12 would be held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while students in Class 9 and Class 10 can approach their teachers on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Haryana
In Haryana, attendance would not be compulsory either and students can go to school voluntarily from Monday. But only those students who have a parental consent form would be allowed in.
The School Education Directorate on Saturday directed all district education officials to ensure that standard operating procedures are in place before schools partially reopen. The department asked all district education officials to make sure teachers get a Covid-19 test and download the Aarogya Setu app on their phones.
In addition to this, there would be a mandatory thermal check for students and teachers at the entry points.
Previously, the education department had held trial classes for board students at the government upper secondary school in Nigdhu, Karnal and Bazidpur Saboli in Sonepat to assess whether the situation was conducive to allowing the schools to partially reopen.
Madhya pradesh
The Madhya Pradesh government will also partially reopen schools so that students in classes 9 to 12 can go to clarify their doubts with teachers. But there would be no regular classes.
Teachers, however, will now have to come to school on a regular basis beginning Monday and have been instructed to conduct their classes online from there, according to Times Now.
Meghalaya
Regular classroom teaching remains suspended in Meghalaya until September 30, but students from Class 9 to Class 12 can visit their schools for teachers to clarify their doubts, according to PTI.
According to guidelines issued by the Chief Secretary of the Department of Education, DP Wahlang, “regular” classroom activities in schools, universities and other educational institutions would remain closed until September 30 across the state.
Students who intend to attend teacher-student counseling must obtain the written consent of their parents or guardians to visit schools and educational institutions. Schools must have flexibility in school hours, student visits and the uniform code and ensure a short visit by students, according to the notice.
Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said the state government has also streamlined the school curriculum for this academic year and adjusted the academic calendar for all levels in light of the pandemic.
Jammu and Kashmir
Schools in Jammu and Kashmir would open with 50% attendance of staff and students. However, attendance would not be mandatory. Officials said parents can decide whether they want to allow their children to attend classes.
Until Class 8, only 50% of teaching and non-teaching staff could show up every day. Students from Class 9 to Class 12 could visit the school on a voluntary basis. In addition to this, online classes and digital education learning will continue as usual.
Nagaland
Schools in Nagaland will reopen starting Monday, but only for students in classes 9-12 on a voluntary basis for those who need academic guidance from teachers.
Chief Secretary of State Temjen Toy said that up to 50% of teaching and non-teaching staff, residing outside the containment zones, can be called to schools at the same time, according to The sentinel.
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