Schools reopen in Kerala, Karnataka, Assam amid strict COVID-19 regulations
(Sourced from PTI)
Schools in Kerala, Karnataka, and Assam reopened with strict COVID-19 regulations, including masks, thermal screening, hand hygiene, and social distancing. In Karnataka and Kerala, classes 10 and 12 resumed on the first day of the New Year, while in Assam classes one to five restarted. Many students attended classes with consent letters from their parents, while others chose to attend classes online.
The Central government has recommended only 50% of students to be allowed at a time in educational institutes. The attendance of the students is also not mandatory either, and they can choose to continue classes online.
Regular classes began in Karnataka for class 10 and second-year pre-university (PU) Class 12 students, and students from grades six to nine came to campuses for the Vidyagama program, which enables continued schooling. Preventive measures such as social distancing, wearing masks, thermal checks, and sanitization of hands are being maintained in the classrooms. Schools and colleges were sanitized ahead of classes resuming on Friday.
Karnataka Education Minister S Suresh Kumar said, "There is a scene of celebration and joy at school premises. The worry among some parents will not go easily in a day." "So those who still have worries, send your children to schools once it is resolved, as it is not compulsory, and those sending to schools don't worry, precautionary measures are in place," he added.
Meanwhile, the schools in Assam resumed classroom teaching for class one to five students, with no compulsion of attendance and will depend on parental consent, the officials said. The online mode of education will continue for students who do not want to attend physical classes. Strict safety protocols such as regular sanitization of classrooms have been put in place for reopening of schools.
In Assam, staggered classes were being held from September for students from class six onwards in both government and private educational institutes and they started attending classes in a normal manner from Friday. Educational institutes in Assam were closed since March 29.
Under a staggered class schedule, students of classes one, two, and three will attend school on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, while those studying in classes four and five will go to their institutes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Classes for the elementary level will be held between 9:45 am and 1:45 pm with a half-an-hour lunch break from 12:15 pm, the officials said.
Teaching and non-teaching staff will have to undergo the COVID-19 test every 30 days and there will be no cultural or other functions in schools until further government orders, according to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Education Department.
Separately, the classes for 10th and 12th standards began in schools across Kerala with limited hours and a restricted number of students. For students, faculty and school staff in Kerala, strict instructions for wearing masks, washing hands at frequent intervals, and mandatory social distancing were in place. Digital thermometers at the entrance of schools are mandatory as per the guidelines issued by the authorities.
As per the present plan, the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) and Higher Secondary (HSC) second-year board exams would be held from March 17 to 30 in strict compliance with COVID-19 protocols.
The General Education Department of Kerala has directed only 50% of students to be allowed at a time in schools and classes to be arranged as one student per bench in the first week. The guidelines issued by the Director of Public Instructions (DPI) stated, "It is better to allow 25% of the students at a time in schools."
