Welcome back: School reopens for classes 9-12

• Image Credit: Internet

• Sep 1, 2021 | moderator

New Delhi: Many states including the national capital Delhi, have reopened their schools for classes 9-12 as the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic has almost receded.

Many states decided to reopen schools and other educational institutions with restrictions for students. The states that have decided to open their schools are – Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Gujarat.

Each state has drafted their respective covid protocols and restrictions to be implemented in schools and other educational institutions. The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the safety of students and staff members. Children will be able to take classes at a time up to a maximum of 50 percent of the seating capacity of the classroom, as per the SOPs issued by DDMA.

Every class will have a different time formula for social distancing. In the morning and evening shift schools, there will be a gap of at least one hour between the two shifts.

Children have been asked not to share their food, books, and other stationery items with each other.

Lunch break has been advised to be kept in an open area at this different time so that too much crowd does not gather at a time.

Delhi Deputy chief minister, Manish Sisodia, announced that schools will follow a “blended mode” of online and offline classes to ensure that those who are at home do not miss out on their studies.

He also said that students will not be forced to attend schools and consent of parents will be mandatory. If they don’t allow, students won’t be forced or considered absent.