Attendance not compulsory, COVID tests a must: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said it would not be mandatory for students to attend schools
Attendance not compulsory, COVID tests a must: Himanta Biswa Sarma

REOPENING OF SCHOOLS

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said it would not be mandatory for students to attend schools even as Dispur has released standard operating procedure (SOP) to reopen schools from September 21 in the State.

Sarma told reporters that students would come to schools only with written consent from parents. He said 50 per cent teachers would come to schools every day.

"We will conduct COVID tests on 10 per cent students and teachers daily. In case more COVID positive cases are detected in a particular school, the headmaster or principal of that particular institution will take a decision on continuing classes after having consultation with the respective Deputy Commissioner. Initially the schools will start informal classes and formal classes will begin only after assessment of the COVID-19 situation," the Minister said.

As per the SOP, students from Classes 9 to 12 will be allowed to attend schools and colleges, while all other classes below class 9 will remain suspended. It further stated that for the students of Classes 9 and 12, classes will be conducted on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On the other hand, for the 10 and 11 standards the classes will be held on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

"For every class, the students should be divided into two batches, so that, in any class, the total number of students is less than 20. The first batch of students will come to school from 9-12 am, for the second batch of students classes will be held from 1 pm to 4 pm," read the SOP.

Asked about the health risk in case of reopening of schools, Sarma said there will be challenges. "But if we don't reopen schools at least for higher classes, students will not be able to compete all India exams like NEET and JEE in 2021 successfully," he said.

Sarma said COVID Care Centres currently situated in schools and colleges, will be shifted once reopening of educational institutions starts.

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