SHILLONG: Schools outside containment zones in the state will reopen from Friday with the state education department issuing new guidelines for the same besides imposing added responsibility on parents to adhere to the prescribed protocols.
To start with, only students of classes 6 to 12 would be allowed to attend classes on a voluntary basis for taking guidance from teachers.
In a notification issued here on Thursday, D.P Wahlang, the principal secretary, education department, stated that the permission to allow students to attend school would be subject to a written consent of their parents/guardians and mandatory compliance to the standard operating protocols.
Among other norms, the order stated that parents would be solely responsible to maintain students’ hygiene including uniform, tiffin boxes, bags, etc.
“Regular class activities for schools, colleges, educational institutions will remain closed till further notification,” it stated.
However, schools will be permitted to open for teacher-student counselling, clearing doubts, addressing hard spots, sharing unit/lesson plans, assignments, submission of work, student assessment programme, etc.
“All schools are to prepare a continuous learning plan (CLP) to ensure all students are learning. Online/distance learning shall continue to be permitted and encouraged,” the notification said.
“All schools have to develop a 50 per cent attendance schedule/roster duty of teaching and non-teaching staff,” it said.
Elementary school teachers (Class I to V) are to attend schools as per the roster duty chart for compulsory transaction of daily/weekly lessons and submission of assignments/lesson plans/worksheet/etc., accordingly via online or through parental distribution at the school campus or teachers visit.
“Schools are to develop their “individual micro planning” relating to flexibility in school timings, scheduling of students’ visits and uniform code. Schools are advised to ensure short duration visits of students,” the notification stated.
The adjusted academic calendar has been uploaded in the education department website (www.megeducation.gov.in) and also at the MBOSE website (www.mbose.in) which is applicable to MBOSE schools.
CBSE and ICSE-affiliated schools are to map their academic calendar in accordance with their respective boards.
School buses if utilised will be exempted from the odd-even rule.
Among the generic preventive measures include simple public health measures such as physical distancing of at least six feet, use of face covers/masks, frequent hand washing with soap and use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers.
Respiratory etiquettes like covering one’s mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing with a tissue/handkerchief/flexed elbow to be followed.
“Prior to resumption of activities, all work areas intended for teaching/demonstrations, etc shall be sanitised with one percent sodium hypochlorite solution,” the notification said.
The school should display state helpline numbers and also numbers of local health authorities, etc. to teachers, students, employees to contact in case of any emergency.
Appropriate backup stock of personal protection items like face covers/masks, visors, hand sanitisers etc. will have to be made available to the teachers and students.
“Entrance (to schools) must have mandatory hand hygiene (sanitiser dispenser) and thermal screening provisions. Multiple gates/separate gates, if feasible, should be used for entry and exit,” it stated.
“Posters/standees on preventive measures about COVID-19 have to be displayed prominently. Proper crowd management should be followed and entry of visitors should be strictly regulated/restricted,” the notification said.
Students will not be allowed to share items like notebooks, pens/pencils, erasers, water bottles, etc.
Besides frequently touched surfaces have to be regularly cleaned and disinfected (using 1 per cent sodium hypochlorite). Provision of soap in toilets and hand sanitisers in other common areas must be ensured. Teaching material, computers, laptops, printers, shall be disinfected with 70 per cent alcohol/wipes.
“Students should not be involved in any of the cleaning activities for health safety reasons. Students, parents, teachers and employees have to be sensitised to create awareness on COVID appropriate behaviour. If a student, teacher or employee is sick, they should not come to the school and follow necessary protocols in this regard,” the guidelines stated.