BHOPAL: After classes 11 and 12, the school education department has allowed schools to open classes for 9 and 10 from Thursday.
Classes will be open twice in a week. Coaching classes are also opening from August 5.
Private CBSE schools are yet to decide about reopening the campuses. As of now, only government schools will open classes for 9 and 10.
DEO Bhopal, Nitin Saxena said that preparation has been completed for reopening of classes from August 5. “Class 9 students will go to school on Saturday and class 10 students can attend on Wednesday. August 5 is Thursday so we are opening classes symbolically. Proper classes will open from Saturday,” said Saxena.
Tuesdays and Fridays are for class 11 and Monday and Thursday for Class 12. Parents’ consent is mandatory for students to attend offline classes, he added.
There can be 50% attendance in school on any given day. School buses will be allowed, but with no more than 50% occupancy. In other protocols, schools must ensure Covid protocols are to be strictly followed, and classrooms, toilets, other facilities and buses are adequately sanitized.
No gathering will be allowed which means no morning assembly. Swimming lessons will also be prohibited too. The SOPs will make schools accountable for vaccination of all employees. “It will be the responsibility of the school principal to ensure that teaching staff and other employees are vaccinated at the scheduled time. Action will be taken against principals who fail to follow the instructions on vaccination,” officials added.
It will be mandatory for schools to get hostel staff vaccinated too. The accommodation and other facilities, particularly washrooms, must be sanitized and cleaned thoroughly before opening classes for 9 and 10. Coaching classes for class 12 may also be allowed to open from August 5.
Private school associations said that they will keep their campuses closed until the situation is clear about fees and proper opening of the schools. “There is no question of opening the campuses at this point. We have been organising online classes and it will continue. We have no option left except to continue our campuses closed,” said an official of a private schools association without quoting his name.
