Shillong: The Meghalaya government has issued orders permitting schools to resume regular classes for students from class I to XII would begin in Meghalaya from November 1.
A notification issued by the Additional Chief Secretary for Education department, Donald Philips Wahlang, said, the classes would begin subject to approval from the parents of the students.
“Parents would have the final say on the physical presence of their ward, attendance would be relaxed,” Wahlang said. In the rural areas classes had already begun, but there has been a delay in the reopening of schools in urban areas, especially the elementary schools, as the pandemic has not totally subsided.
As per the protocols laid by the education department, wearing of masks is mandatory. “Only 15-20 students will be allowed to attend their classes at a given point of time. Classes would be held in batches it’s presumed,” the notification specified, adding that adequate distancing would be maintained in the classrooms and the class hours would be limited to three to four hours per day. However, no cultural or sports activities would be organised.
“Teachers and staff would have to be vaccinated and those unvaccinated would have to undergo mandatory RT-PCR test after every ten days and submit the test certificate to the school higher authorities,” the notification said.
Further, the notification stated that educational institutions must have isolation units and coordinate with local health authorities for any medical emergency. “Every educational institution must be properly sanitised and also have proper sanitation items for frequent washing of hands,” the notification specified.
