SOP ready to open schools in September if Centre gives nod: Assam education minister

Guwahati: Assam education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that the state Government has prepared a set of guidelines for students that shall be brought into effect if the Centre gives its nod to the reopening of educational institutions on September 1.

"The Indian Government has closed the institutions till August 31. We have readied some Standard Operating Procedure so that we can re-open the schools and colleges if the Centre gives the directives", Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Sarma also said that the Assam Government is all set to thoroughly peruse the National Education Policy 2020 and modifications, if required, will be discussed at the Cabinet. "Assam will analyze the National Education Policy 2020 to check if any modifications are required; We will discuss these measures and discussions will move to the Cabinet at the earliest."

The education minister's comments come a day after the Centre decreed that the schools, colleges, coaching centres, etc shall remain closed in view if the ongoing pandemic situation.

"After extensive consultation with States and UTs, it has been decided that schools, colleges, and coaching institutions will remain closed till August 31, 2020", the MHA wrote in its notification in which it declared the new tenets of the upcoming phase of the 'unlock'.

Sarma, it may be recalled, has been optimistic about the resumption of schools and colleges in September next. Addressing health workers at a recent function, the Assam education minister said, "If we can bring COVID-19 under control by August, the life of people across the State will ease to an extent; and we can think of opening the educational institutions."

All schools, colleges, universities, etc, have been closed ever since the Central Government declared a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the dreaded coronavirus that has killed over 6 lakh people across the world.

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