Smiles, sanitizers welcome students as schools reopen in Delhi
(Sourced from PTI)
Balloons, flowers, sanitizers, and smiling faces welcomed Class 10 and 12 students in Delhi schools on Monday as they returned to campuses after over 10 months of schools being closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The students, who were elated to be able to attend the first offline class of the academic session, wore masks and queued up outside schools maintaining social distance.
"It was optional to come but I was sure I have to. It is the last year of my school life and I haven't come to school even one day," said Pragati Diwan. For another Geeta Bal Bharti School student, the feeling was similar to that of attending the first day at school. She looked forward to the preparations for Board Exams in school.
The school put up "welcome back" posters in corridors where teachers stood with sanitizers and checked each student's temperature. Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya in Mandawali decorated the premises with balloons and the teachers showered flower petals on students. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the education and higher education portfolios, visited some schools to assess their preparedness.
Allowing 15 students at a time in a classroom, placing hand washing consoles and sanitizers in corridors, volunteers to ensure social distancing is maintained, temperature checks, and medical facilities on standby if any student is not feeling well, are among various other initiatives planned by schools. Schools have been instructed by the Directorate of Education to follow all COVID-19 guidelines when classroom studies resume.
However, the Delhi Government made it clear that physical attendance is not compulsory and students will attend schools only with the consent of their parents. Schools in the national capital are also working out plans to ensure that students who choose not to come to campus do not miss out on anything.
The Delhi Government allowed schools outside COVID-19 containment zones to reopen for Classes 10 and 12 from January 18 in view of Board Exams. The Union Education Ministry has already announced that Board Exams for Classes 10 and 12 will be conducted from May 4 to June 10, even though the Central Board of Secondary Education is yet to release an examination date-sheet.
Over three lakh students have registered from the Delhi region for the Class 10 CBSE Board Exams, while over 2.5 lakh candidates have registered for the Class 12 exam. The Delhi Government has suggested that schools conduct pre-board exams for Class 12 from March 20 to April 15 and Class 10 pre-board exams from April 1 to April 15.
