PUNJAB // COVID-19// NEW GUIDELINES

 

Government, affiliated, aided and private schools in Punjab are all set to reopen for classes 10,11 and 12 from Monday onwards, with the education department of the state on Sunday issuing a detailed document on guidelines to be followed by the heads of such educational institutions.

The schools will reopen for students after nearly four months of the second Covid-19 wave having peaked in March this year and all educational institutions being ordered shut by the administration in response.

As per the detailed guidelines issued by the department, only fully vaccinated teachers and non-teaching staff will be allowed to attends the school in person.

Each district education officer has to appoint a Covid nodal officer, say the guidelines issued by Punjab’s director of Education (Secondary).

The order further says that the department has to make continuous effort to get all teachers, staff, and eligible students vaccinated.

In case there is a shortage of vaccine doses, then DEOs have to coordinate with the Deputy Commissioners of their respective districts and arrange vaccines for teachers and school staff.

School heads have also been directed to compile data of all students/teachers who test positive and those who get fully test positive and those who get fully vaccinated.

All schools and hotels, which were temporarily turned into Covid care centres, have to be fully sanitised before being opened for students.

The order also states that students need to follow social distancing norms while being seated in classes and hence particular seats students to occupy can be marked.

Schools have also been prohibited from undertaking any events where physical/social distancing is not possible.

The option of online classes will continue. The reopening of schools in the state came after a drop in COVID -19 cases resulting in lockdown relaxations. The schools are being reopened following all Covid-19 protocols and guidelines.

All recommendations made by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare are to be followed-like all employees who are at higher risk, ie the elderly, those pregnant and those who have underlying medical conditions are to take extra precautions. They should preferably not be exposed to any frontline work requiring direct contact with students.