Home Dehradun SOPs issued for day and boarding schools in U’khand

SOPs issued for day and boarding schools in U’khand

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By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 31 Jul: The Government has issued SOPs for re-opening of schools in Uttarakhand with effect from 2 August, 2021. The SOPs have been issued under the signatures of Secretary School Education Radhika Jha.
Separate SOPs have been issued for day and boarding schools. The classes on offline mode will begin only for classes 6 to 12 while the schools have been asked to continue with online classes only for classes 1 to 5. Day schools have been asked to have classes for a maximum period of 4 hours per day for classes 9 to 12 and only for 3 hours for classes 6 to 8. While the offline teaching for classes 9 to 12 would begin from 2 August, offline teaching for classes 6 to 8 would begin from 16 August. As per the orders issued, the schools would run on hybrid mode. Students not able to attend school for any reason could continue the classes on online mode from their homes.
The orders issued today by Secretary School Education, Radhika Jha have made it clear that the schools would only be able to charge tuition fee only and emphasise that no other fee would be charged from the students till further orders particularly in view of fears regarding onset of a possible third wave of Corona. The schools would open for teaching only for five days a week while Saturdays and Sundays would be utilised for sanitisation of the school property.
The orders further make it clear that the schools would not in any manner compel the students to come to schools and they would allow the students to come to the school for attending classes after obtaining due consent of the parents in this regard. The Orders also direct the school authorities to essentially nominate one nodal officer in the school to be entrusted the responsibility of ensuring compliance with the social distancing norms and other Covid protocols like wearing masks, etc. The orders further make it clear that the nodal officer and the school authorities would be responsible to prevent any spread of the infection by ensuring strict compliance to the Covid protocols. In case of any outbreak, the school authorities would be required to immediately intimate the health and the district authorities. In case anyone is found with symptoms similar to Corona infection, or fever, he or she would be provided preliminary treatment and sent back home. The students, teachers and non teaching staff would be permitted entry everyday only after thermal scanning. The school authorities would ensure proper hygiene and sanitation in classes and toilets and availability of clean drinking water.
It was also made clear that in case the number of students was high and it would normally not be possible to maintain the social distancing and compliance to Covid protocols, the school authorities would hold classes in two shifts. Students with even roll numbers could be called in the first shift, while the students with odd roll numbers could be called in for the second shift. Sanitisation would be carried after every shift.
The orders further state that the students would be given 3 days time to provide consent letter in the school and mandatory compliance would be required to maintain a safe physical distance between seats while making seating arrangements. None would be permitted entry without masks and all would be required to wear masks continuously. No assembly meetings or any cultural or sports activities would be permitted. No midday meals would be prepared, but the students would be given food items as was done last year. The students would also not be permitted to bring lunch boxes. Physical distancing would be ensured also in public transport ferrying the students. Students would also be required to wear full sleeves dresses for additional safety against Malaria or Dengue. The schools both day and the boarding, have been told to get their staff members vaccinated fully at the earliest.
For the residential schools, it has been made mandatory for the students and the staff to produce negative RTPCR test report issued within past 48 hours in order to be permitted to enter the school. Any student or staff member found with symptoms like fever or cold, etc., would be immediately isolated. Additional sanitisation and safety measures would be required to be maintained at all places in the school including class rooms, hostel rooms, libraries, toilets and dining halls, etc. Seating arrangement at each place would be made in compliance with the Covid protocols. Residential schools would also be required to run on hybrid mode for students not able to come to schools for the classes. In case the numbers of the students was high, they too would be required to have classes in two shifts. The schools were also told to have special vaccination drive within their residential campus for the staff members who had not been fully vaccinated so far. Residential schools have however been permitted to have some cultural and extra curricular activities, but strictly ensuring compliance of Covid protocols as the number of students at residential schools were generally lower. They would be able to charge minimal fee against this.