As the State Government has permitted reopening of schools for offline classes for grades IX and above from August 23 in the districts where positivity rate is less than 2%, the Department of Primary and Secondary Education has released Standard Operating Procedure (SoP).
According to the SoP, all government, aided and unaided institutions are allowed to conduct IX and X classes between 10 am and 1.30 pm (from Monday to Friday) and between 10 am and 12.50 pm on Saturdays. However, Class VIII students will be asked to come in the afternoon to get their doubts cleared and for alternative form of learning.
Students who want to come to schools should get a consent letter from parents stating that they have been given permission to attend classes and that they do not have any symptoms of COVID-19.
The SoP states that school managements must ensure that social distance is maintained inside the campus. To avoid crowding of students, multiple entry and exit gates should be used. If any child has cough, fever or cold, such students should be made to sit in a separate room and parents have to take their children back home. One teacher needs to be appointed as nodal officer in each school to ensure guidelines are followed, it added.
– School buses are allowed but social distancing must be maintained.
– Inside schools, posters on maintaining social distancing and sanitizing hands should be displayed
– Schools should introduce basic yoga, exercise and pranayama to boost the child’s immunity
– While masks are mandatory for everyone, teachers above 50 need to wear face shields
– Teachers have to get at least one dose of vaccine before attending classes
– Students have to carry drinking water and lunch from their homes
– Schools cannot hold activities that involve children standing in groups
– No teacher who has symptoms should come to school
– Students should not unnecessarily touch surfaces such as chalks, dusters and water bottles
– Schools will not be able to provide midday meal to students
