Unlock 6.0: Schools to reopen from today in this state with odd-even system
Delhi: This time, Centre issued no fresh directions in its unlock guidelines for November, a handful of states have allowed opening up of more activities outside containment zones and announced partial reopening of schools.
Schools will resume in Assam on Monday after being shut for more than seven months due to Covid pandemic, authorities said on Saturday.
As indicated by authorities of Assam Education Department, only students from Classes 6th to 12th will be allowed to attend the classes under strict COVID-19 guidelines. The authorities added that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been given by the government in such manner.
The schools will follow an odd-even framework to limit the danger of Covid spread. Students in Classes 6, 8 and 12 will attend the class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while students of classes 7, 9 and 11 will attend the classes on the other three days.
“All the students would not come into the schools at a time and they would attend the schools in different batches in morning and afternoon shift. Fixation of first batch and second batch of students would be done by the head of the institution,” the government said in a news release.
“The first batch of students would come at 8 a.m. and stay up to 12 noon and the second batch of students would come at 12.30 p.m. and stay up to 3.30 p.m.” it added.
As per the SOP issued by the government, the schools have been asked to follow social distancing and other precautionary measures. The guidelines issued by the Assam government also includes a staggered timetable for general colleges, engineering colleges, polytechnic institutions and IITs.
It is to be noted that online education will continue for students who prefer to attend online classes.
Apart from Assam, As part of its ‘Unlock-6’ guidelines, the Naveen Patnaik-led government has announced partial reopening of schools for students of classes 9-12 from November 16 and places of worship with appropriate restrictions and safety protocols.
Extending the academic year 2020-21 up to April 30, the government has announced graded reopening of schools, with students of classes 9-10 set to rejoin from November 2, classes 6-8 from November 23, and class 1-5 from December 14. From November 2, students of classes 9 and 10 will be attending school every alternate day and classes will be held till noon. Each classroom will be limited to only 16 students.
October saw the first monthly fall in Covid-19 infections since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country, with both fresh cases and deaths declining by nearly 30% from the previous month’s figures.