Meghalaya permits students from Class 9-12 to visit schools for "guidance"

Shillong: After a long period of closure of schools and other educational institutions, the Government of Meghalaya has issued a notification on Thursday pertaining to resumption of the classes. Schools will remain closed at least up to September 30, but certain activities will be permitted as per the Central Government's guidelines.

The notification issued by DP Wahlang, Principal Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya's Education Department, issued a set of guidelines to be followed while opening schools as directed by the Centre as a part of its "unlock" initiative.

As per the guidelines, the regular class activities for schools, colleges, educational will continue to remain closed up to 30th September 2020. However, some other activities have been permitted.

Schools will be permitted to open for activities, such as teacher-student counseling, clearing doubts, addressing hard spots, sharing unit/lesson plans, assignments, submission of works, student assessment programme, etc.

Meanwhile, all the schools have been asked to prepare a Continuous Learning Plan (CLP) to ensure all students are learning. Furthermore, the online/distance learning shall continue to be permitted and encouraged.

Schools have also been urged to develop a 50% attendance schedule/roster duty of teaching and non-teaching staff.

"Only students of classes 9 to 12 are permitted to visit their schools, in areas outside the containment zone only, on a voluntary basis for taking guidance from their teachers. This will be subject to the written consent of their parents/guardians and will be permitted with effect from 21st September 2020 and mandatory compliance to the SOP notified at para 2 of this notification," the notification further added.

Elementary school teachers are to attend schools as per their Roster duty chart developed by the school for the compulsory transaction of daily or weekly lessons plans/worksheet/etc. distribution at the school campus.

Schools have also been urged to develop their individual micro-planning relating to flexibility in school timings, scheduling of students visit and uniform code.Schools have also been advised to ensure a short duration visit of students.

Meanwhile, owing to the virus outbreak, an adjusted academic calendar has been uploaded in the education department website (www.megeducation.gov.in) and also at the MBOSE website (www.mbose.in).

The government notification also stated that the school buses, if utilized, will be exempted from the odd/even rule that is currently being imposed in Shillong as an anti-COVID measure.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 preventive measures -- such as wearing of masks and maintenance of social distancing -- shall be made mandatory in the schools and other institutions of learning.

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