GUWAHATI: The Union Ministry of Education has issued fresh set of guidelines for the reopening of schools and coaching institutions from 15th October onward in a graded manner.
Tweeting about the same, Union Minister of Education Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank informed that States/UTs are to prepare their own standard operating procedures (SOP) regarding health and safety precaution for reopening of schools based on the SOP to be issued by DoSEL, and may adopt or adapt the SOP as per local context and requirements.
Highlights of the SOP include the following:
- States/UTs should take the consent of parents/guardians before their child/ward begins attending schools. Students willing to study from home with the consent of the parents may be allowed to do so.
- Flexible attendance and sick leave policies may be developed and implemented to encourage students and staff to stay at home when sick.
-To meet the nutritional requirements of children and safeguard their immunity during the COVID-19 outbreak, States / UTs were advised to provide hot cooked Mid-Day Meal or its equivalent Food Security Allowance to eligible children during closure of schools and summer vacations.
-Divergent use of teaching resources shall have to be relied upon keeping physical/social distancing and other safety norms in mind.
-PRAGYATA Guidelines on digital and online education can be used to orient teachers and students in this regard. If the State/UT has Energized Textbooks, inform students and parents how to download the e-content behind the QR on DIKSHA, codes and use the same in offline mode, thereon.
-The teachers, school counsellor and school health workers should work in unison to ensure emotional safety of their students.
