Students to sit 3 feet apart after reopening
Educational institutions have been ordered to ensure distance learning for those not willing to attend classes physically
Highlights
- Students must sit 3 feet apart
- Everyone must use masks inside school premises
- Students to be divided into shifts for safety
- Schools to first resume class-6 to class-10 simultaneously
The government has instructed educational institutions across the country to conduct classes, when reopened, ensuring a minimum distance of three feet between students to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
It also ordered schools and colleges to divide students of each class into shifts and ensure distance learning for those not willing to attend classes physically.
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The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) on Friday issued guidelines for the reopening of schools, colleges, and higher educational institutions.
Earlier in a notice, it had instructed that all institutions must be cleaned by 4 February to get ready for the reopening.
Students, teachers and staff must use masks, the DSHE said, urging the authorities of the institutions to make a plan of how to provide all students with the opportunity to attend classes in compliance with the health safety rules.
For reopening the institutions, the authorities have been instructed to educate teachers and staff about hygiene, and have coordination with the local administration and the local health department.
The institutions have to prepare updated information about Covid-19 in simple language for students with the help of the local health department, and determine the number of school attendees (teachers and students) for a comprehensive plan to conduct educational activities safely.
They would also need to determine the maximum number of students who can be brought together at a time or in one shift, inform teachers and students associated with the classes that will resume first, and determine the number of shifts required and class hours of each shift for students from Class VI to Class X so they can start attending school simultaneously.
The DSHE guidelines also include a separate section for teachers, outlining their modes of teaching.
The guidelines have been formulated following instructions issued by the Prime Minister's Office, the cabinet, the Ministry of Public Administration and the Department of Health Services and the World Health Organisation, the UNESCO, the UNICEF, and the World Bank.
