In a major turnaround, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government on Tuesday stayed on ‘’technical grounds’’ its decision to reopen the schools to hold 8th to 12th classes in the COVID 19 free gram panchayats and local self-government areas. The government on Monday had issued the resolution whereby the schools will be reopened after due discussion with the parents in the COVID 19 free gram panchayats and local self-government areas.
The school education department on Monday backtracked and stayed the decision. A senior officer told the Free Press Journal, ‘’ Even though the decision was restricted to COVID 19 free gram panchayats and local self-government areas, the threat of Delta Plus variant and the emergence of the third wave of the pandemic is being considered to stay the decision. Now, the schools are expected to hold discussions with parents and later take due decisions in the COVID-19 gram panchayats and local self-government areas by strictly adhering to the Standard Operating Procedure.’
As reported by Free Press Journal, the government had earlier permitted reopening of schools with a plan of calling students in phases either on alternate days or morning or evening sessions by adhering to Covid-19 SOP.
What were the conditions for re-opening the schools?
One student will occupy one bench while the distance between two benches will be six ft. One class will have only 15-20 students who will have to regularly wash hands, wear masks and if detected symptoms they will be immediately sent to their homes and they will have to undergo a Covid test. According to the SOP, the teachers’ accommodation will have to be arranged in the respective villages or due care should be taken so that they do not use public transport to reach schools.
