The Union health ministry on Sunday, September 13, 2020, issued standard operating procedures (SOP) for skill training institutions and higher education institutions conducting technical programs requiring laboratory work. These have been allowed to open by the Centre from September 21, as part of the fourth stage of the nationwide unlock.

The guidelines are as follows:

• The seating arrangement should be such that it ensures a distance of six feet between desks, chairs.
• Classroom activities should be staggered, with separate time slots, to allow adequate physical distancing and disinfection of classroom premises.
• Academic scheduling should be have a mix of regular classroom teaching and online teaching/assessments.
• Teachers and students should wear masks throughout teaching activities.
• Sharing of items like laptops, stationary, notebooks etc. among students should not be allowed.

Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued guidelines for the reopening of schools for students of classes 9 to 12 from September 21, 2020. The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the MHA listed several health and safety measures in order to ensure students can attend classes safely and don’t lose out on their academics.

Students from classes 9 to 12 will have the option of attending the classes remotely/virtually or physically on a voluntary basis for guidance from their teachers subject to written permission of parent/guardian. The guidelines further state that instead of the biometric mode of attendance, alternate arrangements for contactless attendance shall be made by the school administration.

Source: Hindustan Times

Read: MHA issues guidelines for reopening of schools for classes 9 to 12 from Sept 21, 2020