The Union Ministry of the Interior announced on Saturday the guidelines for the fourth relaxation phase in the coronavirus-induced lockdown. In the latest round of relaxation, called Unblocking 4, metro train services were allowed to resume from September 7, but in a staggered fashion.
However, schools and universities will remain closed and the government will hold a separate discussion before opening these educational institutions.
However, the government has allowed the resumption of some educational activities. Here’s a look at them:
The guidance issued by the Union Ministry of the Interior says that students in classes 9 to 12 may be allowed to visit their schools in areas outside the containment zones only on a voluntary basis to receive guidance from their teachers. This will be subject to the written consent of your parents / guardians, the guide adds.
It also says that beginning Sept. 21, states and union territories can allow up to 50 percent of teaching and non-teaching staff to be called into schools at the same time for online teaching / tele-counseling and related work. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be issued by the union’s health ministry separately, the guideline says.
Skills or entrepreneurship training will be allowed in National Skills Training Institutes, Industrial Training Institutes (ITI), short-term training centers registered with the National Skills Development Corporation or State Skills Development Missions or other ministries of the Indian government or state governments as of September 21.
The National Institute of Small Business Entrepreneurship and Development (NIESBUD), the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) and their training providers will also be allowed.
Institutions of higher education will be allowed only for academic researchers (PhD) and graduate students of technical and professional programs that require laboratory / experimental work. But the Higher Education Department will discuss the situation with the Interior Ministry before giving the orders, according to the guideline.
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