Centre releases SOPs for reopening of Schools: All you need to know

Metro services across India have resumed as part of Unlock 4, since being suspended in March due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. From Sept 21, also as part of Unlock 4, schools, too, will partially reopen, albeit only for classes 9-12.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) released guidelines for partial reopening of schools.

Here’s all you need to know:

• Only schools outside containment zones will reopen, & only those staff members & students, who live outside containment zones, will be allowed to attend.

• Students can visit schools on a voluntary basis, to take guidance from teachers. Also, they will have to take written permission from their parents for the visit.

•Student-teacher interaction will take place in a staggered manner.

•These SOPs are in addition to specific measures that will be taken when schools allow students to come for guidance purpose.

•These will also apply to skill or entrepreneurship institutions, higher educational institutions conducting doctoral courses & post graduate studies.

•Detailed SOPs are available on the health ministry’s website mohfw.gov.in.

•Schools & educational institutions have been closed since March as the pandemic started spreading across the country. Since then, online classes are being conducted, & will continue for the time being.

•After 4 phases of nationwide lockdown, from March 25 to May 31, the country began reopening from June 1. Currently, Unlock 4 is in effect; it began on September 1 & will end on Sept 30.

•India has overtaken Brazil to be the 2nd worst-hit country after the United States. Its tally currently stands at nearly 43 lakh, including over 33 lakh recoveries & more than 72,000 deaths. 

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