Lakshadweep remains the only place in India without a single reported case of Covid-19. On Tuesday, October 6, 2020, teachers welcomed students of classes 1 to 5 for the first time this academic year. Earlier, on September 21, classes 6 to 12 had resumed on the islands. Classes for pre-primary students are yet to commence. 

Now, over 11,000 students on the UT are back in school. 

The decision to restart in-person classes was taken by Dineshwar Sharma, Administrator of the Union territory (UT), after a meeting of Education Department officials with local body representatives and parent-teacher associations.

A teacher at Government Junior Basic School on Amini Island said most of their 126 students in Classes 1-5 had turned up – “There was thermal screening for kids at the gate. Everyone has to wear masks. Students have to wash their hands before entering classrooms. Only two students are permitted to sit on a bench.”

Classes are held alternately at the school and only till noon. He added, “Classes 2 and 4 will be held Monday, and the others the next day, and so on. Students of each grade will be coming to school three days a week.” 

Showkath Ali, Assistant Educational Officer, Lakshadweep, said schools must get consent letters from parents. Instead of cooked midday meals, kits with essential items like rice, pulses etc are being distributed to students’ homes.

Source: The Indian Express

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