KOLKATA: The state school education department has drafted a detailed set of guidelines for the scheduled reopening of educational institutes from November 16 — announced on Monday by chief minister Mamata Banerjee — and forwarded it to the state secretariat for review and approval.
Details of the guidelines aren’t out as yet. The chief minister is expected to announce the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the reopening soon.
Private schools in the state — ones affiliated to the Council For The Indian School Certificate Examinations and the Central Board of Secondary Education — are waiting for the SOP before announcing their reopening dates to students and guardians.
In February, prior to allowing physical classes for senior school students, the school education department had published 28 pages of detailed guidelines for reopening and conducting classes. That SOP, said sources, had come in handy while preparing the new guidelines.
The sources said that several distancing measures were suggested in order to minimise the spread of Covid: only two students would be allowed to sit on a bench where, earlier, three or four used to sit; staggered timings for arrival and departure in order to avoid crowding at the gates; and setting up isolation rooms on campus. Regular sanitisation and mask-wearing by everyone on campus would also be am absolute must, a source said. Temperature checks will be carried out at the main entrance.
Initially, the teaching would be “hybrid” — students of classes IX to XII would be asked to come to school, with half the class being asked to come on alternate days, while the remaining half logs in from home.
Campuses will also be asked to stock up on handwash, sanitisers and masks for use by students and teachers.
Authorities will also be asked to sensitise guardians to monitor each pupil’s health, and not send them to school if they run a temperature.
