Schools to partially reopen from Sept 21

The State government has decided to allow partial reopening of schools for students of Class 9 to 12 from September 21, on a “voluntary basis”, to seek academic guidance.

In an order issued by chief secretary Temjen Toy, schools, colleges and other educational institutions, including coaching and training institutions/centres will be allowed to reopen subject to strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the government in this regard. 

The order stated that up to 50% of teaching and non-teaching staff residing outside the containment zones may be permitted in the schools at a time for online teaching/tele-counselling and related work, subject to strict adherence to the SOP.

Students of classes 9 to 12 may be permitted to visit their schools in areas outside the containment zones only on a voluntary basis for taking guidance from their teachers, subject to written consent of their parents/guardians and strict adherence to all the provisions in the SOP, the order stated.

Further, skill or entrepreneurship training will also be permitted in National Skill Training Institutes, Industrial Training Institutes and short-term training centres registered with National Skill Development Corporation or State Skill Development Missions or other ministries of Government of India subject to strict adherence to the SOP. 

National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship and their training providers too will be permitted as per the SOP.

The State government’s move follows an SOP issued by the Union Ministry for Health & Family Welfare on September 8 for partial reopening of schools for students of classes 9, 10, 11 and 12 on a voluntary basis for taking guidance from their teachers in the context of COVID-19, and for skill or entrepreneurship training institutions/centres and preventive measures required to be taken for containing spread of COVID-19 in these institutions/centres. 

It may be mentioned that schools across the country have been closed since March due to COVID-19 pandemic.