Schools partially reopened in various places in India on a voluntary basis for the first time since they were closed as part of sweeping measures taken in March to enforce social distancing and control the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic that has raged around. of 88,000 lives in the country.
The Center’s Unlock 4 guidelines, which were issued late last month to further ease restrictions imposed in March to deal with the pandemic, allowed students in classes 9 to 12 outside of the containment zones to return to the schools on a voluntary basis from September 21 (Monday). seek academic guidance. On September 8, the Union Ministry of Health issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) saying that only 50% of the teaching / non-teaching staff will be allowed to enter the campuses. Attendance is not mandatory for students.
Schools in four northeastern states – Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland and Meghalaya – began operating in accordance with guidelines with current safety protocols and social distancing regulations. Authorities said the students were allowed to return to schools with the written consent of their parents. Schools will remain closed in Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur for now.
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Assam’s director of secondary education Phanindra Jidung said the situation will be reviewed after 15 days and that the SOPs for classes are intended for all categories of schools. “Private schools have to decide when they want to resume their classes.”
According to Assam-specific SOPs, students in classes 9 and 12 will attend their classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Classes for students in classes 10 and 11 will be held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Nagaland Chief Secretary Temjen Toy said students in classes 9 to 12 were allowed to visit their schools in areas outside the containment zones only on a voluntary basis to receive guidance from their teachers, subject to consent by written by their parents / guardians.
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The Meghalaya government announced that students would be allowed to return to schools to “clear up their doubts” with their teachers. But no regular classes will be held until September 30.
“Regular class activities for schools, universities and educational institutions will continue to be suspended until September 30,” Meghalaya’s chief secretary (education) DP Wahlang said in an order.
In northern India, schools in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the Union territories of Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir also partially reopened.
Anjali Gupta, head of Jammu’s Ranbir Government Upper Secondary School, said they have been ordered to only partially open schools. “… those students facing problems with online classes due to network problems, or those who do not have Android phones … must come to schools voluntarily to seek guidance from teachers,” he said.
“We have been told that we have 50% of the staff. We have made a group for online classes. And we have hinted that those students who want guidance on any subject should obtain a consent letter signed by their parents and come to the school following all the SoPs that are given to them from time to time. ” Gupta said they have disinfected and fumigated the school.
In Andhra Pradesh, schools were partially reopened for students in classes 9 and 10 with the approval of their parents. Authorities said the students will be allowed to answer their questions and will not be allowed to stay on campus during school hours.
Ramavat Kamala, a director of a secondary school, said the school was reopened on the orders of the education commissioner and all teachers were asked to resume work. “Ninth and tenth class students may only [come to] school for clarifying doubts … “
He said they have been asked to wear masks and raise hygiene awareness. “Students will be able to sit six feet apart in classrooms. Students will be sent [back] immediately after receiving clarification. “He said students have been asked to bring their own water bottles and not change them.” They are asked to disinfect [their hands] at regular intervals. The school was disinfected before opening for students. “
Kamala said they sent the students back, did not bring approval letters, and checked with the parents of those who had them.
The closure of schools and online classes as an alternative raised concerns about the digital divide among students. Three-quarters of students in India did not have internet access at home, according to a survey by the National Bureau of Statistics of India from 2017-18. The proportion of those who did not have computers or devices such as palm-tops and tablets was much higher: 89%. Access to these facilities was higher among students with higher educational levels. But even at the highest levels, a large portion of the students did not have access to these facilities, raising concerns among schools, parents, and state governments.
(With contributions from the agency)
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