BENGALURU: In the last phase of reopening schools, pre-primaries-- nurseries, LKG and UKG-- will reopen from November 8 in all taluks where the test positivity rate is below 2%. The circular in this regard has been issued by the department of public instruction on Thursday. With this, all classes will be fully functional for the first time since March 2020.
TOI had reported it on Wednesday that the government has decided to do the same for pre-primaries following the announcement of opening of anganwadis by the women and child welfare department.
As per the standard operating procedures issued, teachers and staff will have to compulsorily wear masks and fully vaccinated. However, masks for students are not mandated. Experts have opined that children below the age of 5 years need not wear masks. At the same time, children have to be asked to cover their mouths and nose while coughing or sneezing.
In case a student shows any symptoms of Covid-19 like cough, fever, cold, loss of sense of smell and taste, he has to be separated in an isolation room and guardians infomed. If a student is tested positive, all children should be tested for the virus and school closed temporarily. The reopening of the school should be done based on the instruction of the health workers’ instructions. Parents should be sensitised not to send sick children to school.
The campuses should be regularly sanitised with sodium hypochlorite solution. Children should be tested for Covid symptoms at the entrance. Physical distance of 1m should be maintained between children.
Children should bring food and water from home. Hot water facility should be made available in schools. Care should be taken to ensure that children do not put any other substance in their mouths other than food and water. Sanitisers should be stored away from reach of children.
The classes for these children can be run from 9am-3.30 pm from Monday to Friday. The timetable can be changed as per requirement. No outsiders should be allowed inside the campus, reads the circular.
