SHILLONG, Feb 2: The Meghalaya government has decided to resume normal classes from classes VI-XII throughout the state subject to the consent of the parents.
“An order has been issued for reopening schools from class VI and above,” Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said on Wednesday.
Classes I-V will continue online in Shillong and Shillong Urban Agglomeration till further notice, he added.
In a notification issued by the department for the district administration to consider, the stress was on ensuring the COVID-19 protocols are followed strictly.
The consent of the parents has been made paramount for the physical presence of their wards and the attendance norms will be flexible, Rymbui said.
The teaching hours have been reduced to 3-4 hours per day and alternate day’s routine has been recommended and no cultural gathering and sports event have been permitted.
A blended mode of online and offline classes shall be an option to be exercised.
The deputy commissioners have been empowered to assess the risk locally and decide on reopening of schools either online or offline taking into consideration the COVID-19 cases and in consultation with the district health officials.
A Task Force Committee headed by the deputy commissioner may be constituted to monitor the resumption and safe operations of schools, the notification said. A district school education officer may be nominated as member-secretary along with the district medical health officer and prominent school principals and community leaders as members, it said.
The Task Force Committee has been empowered to assess the COVID-19 situation and the feasibility of school reopening.
Elementary to higher secondary school teachers are to attend schools according to their duty chart developed by the school for the compulsory transaction of daily or weekly lessons and submission of assignments, lesson plans, worksheets, etc., accordingly via offline or online.
School dropouts
Rymbui said the possibility of students dropping out of schools due to the pandemic cannot be ruled out and the government will ensure that the problem is addressed.
“I don’t have the data of the dropout rate but can’t rule out the possibility of some dropouts. We will try to do our best to ensure that the dropout rate is addressed so that children don’t lose out on education,” he said.
The minister said there is no replacement for classroom teaching. “A student’s interaction with teachers and classmates enhances his capability and capacity of learning,” he added.
There are reports of many schools in rural areas facing the pandemic-induced dropout problem.