Assam govt issues revised SOP for reopening of educational institutions from 2 Nov

Oct. 30: In supersession of all earlier SOPs and Orders, the Government of Assam in Elementary, Secondary and Higher Education Department on Friday has notified the revised Standard Operating Procedure for re-opening of Schools/ Colleges/ Engineering Colleges/ Polytechnics/ Private educational institutions as well as Govt. and private training and coaching institutes/ universities in the State of Assam from classes VI upwards maintaining all the protocols of safety Guidelines under COVID-19 pandemic. The Standard Operating Procedure will come into effect from 2nd November, 2020.

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) FOR RE-OPENING OF SCHOOLS/ COLLEGES IN THE STATE OF ASSAM (FROM CLASS VI to XII IN SCHOOLS AND FIRST, THIRD AND FIFTH SEMESTER IN COLLEGES:

General Guidelines: 
1. There will be re-opening of schools from 02nd November, 2020 from classes VI to XII and all UG/Degree Colleges/ Engineering Colleges/ Polytechnics/ University/ All Govt. and private educational institutions and private training and coaching institutes.
2. Classes from I to V will remain suspended until further orders.

• Staggered timetable will be followed for all the classes from VI to XII.
• In Upper Primary, Secondary and Sr. Secondary schools, for students of class VI, VIII, X and XII, classes will be conducted on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Fixation of first batch and second batch of students will be done by the Head of the Institution( Say for example class VI and X in the morning shift and class VIII and XII in the afternoon shift).
• And in schools, for students of class VII, IX and XI, classes will be conducted on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Fixation of first batch and second batch of students will be done by the Head of the Institution( Say for example class VII and IX in the morning shift and class X in the afternoon shift).
• The Staggered timetable for all schools is cited at Para B of this guideline. There will be two batches for each class. However, if in any class, total number of students is less than 20, then division in batch will not be required.
• The first batch of students will come at 08.00 AM and stay upto 12.00 Noon and the second batch of students will come at 12.30 PM and stay upto 03.30 PM and the Head of the institution will prepare daily routine chart for imparting lesson to the students and equal importance will be given to all the subjects.
• The first batch of students will have their midday meal from 11.30 AM to 12.00 Noon and the next batch will have midday meal from 12.30 PM to 01.00 PM. The Standard Operating Procedure for mid-day meal, cooking and distribution is at para N.
• The Head of the Institution, President of SMC/SMDC of the Schools shall ensure that the cook cum helpers are to do COVID test (Swab test) before resuming regular cooking and serving of hot cooked midday meal in the schools. Regular COVID test for cook cum Helpers is required to be ensured and has to be done after a gap of every 15 days or in case of any symptoms of fever, cough, difficulty in breathing etc.,
• All concerned stake holder/ functionaries are to take necessary steps for resuming regular cooking and serving of hot cook midday meal to the children in the school campus based on the attendance of the students as per staggered timing mentioned in the SOP. However SMC/SMDC shall distribute food security allowance to the eligible absentee children as per entitlements/ norms following the guidelines of distribution of food security allowance.
• The Schools/ Educational Institutions shall have to be sanitized on every weekend (preferably on every Sunday).
• Regarding sanitization of schools it will be the joint responsibility of the SMDC/SMC of the schools, Deputy Commissioner of the District , Joint Director of Health Services, Inspector of Schools, DEEO, BEEO.
• On every Sunday there will be community mobilization involving the head of the Educational Institution, Village Headman (Gaonburha), Parents, Guardians, interested NGOs, SHG, Volunteers regarding precaution and awareness on physical social distancing about COVID-19 etc., maintaining health and hygiene, Yoga, Meditation, commutation, prepare and disseminate posters, banners, brochures, info graphics etc., on COVID-19 related issues.
• Students should be made aware about proper and scientific use of Mask, frequent change of Mask, sanitization, maintenance of physical distance of minimum 6 ft. both inside and outside the classroom.
• The Teaching and Non-Teaching staff of all Educational Institutions and Cooks/ Helpers engaged in preparation and serving of Midday Meal among the students should be medically tested for COVID-19 after every 30 days and in case of symptomatic case the testing should be done immediately.
• The Hostels of all Educational Institutions shall remain closed for one month and until further orders.
• Regular cleaning and disinfection of the classrooms toilets corridor etc., shall have to be done.
• Compulsory use of Masks/ Sanitizers by all.
• Arrangements for potable water for hand washing with soaps. Install hand washing station, hygienic drinking water points, toilets and urinals to allow physical distancing of atleast 1 to 2 meters and ensure these facilities are accessible to children with disabilities.
• Social distancing in classes/ assembly/dinning hall for distribution of Mid-day-Meal etc. space will be created in the classroom/hall to ensure that the childrens desk stands one meter apart and responsibility for such arrangement would lie on the Head of the institution.
• Before the schools reopen, R.A.T. of all Teachers/Cooks/ Staff members have to be done and thereafter periodic testing at an interval of 30 days from time to time. And considering the huge number of teaching and non-teaching staff of institutions ranging from upper primary schools to universities and the time factor involved in testing (both testing and value of results) testing has to be planned by District Administration in view of the various challenges posed in conducting such large number of test.
• Temperatures check of all students/teachers etc. shall be done every day through thermo scanner.

• Contact with the nearest PHC/CHC in case of fever, cough, difficulty in breathing/ medical emergency.
• A District level task force Chaired by Deputy Commissioner of the District and consisting of District Heads of the concerned line Department as members will be responsible for ensuring enforcement of the SOP. Notification will be issued by Education Department.
• The Schools used as quarantine centres should be properly sanitized before re-opening. Those educational institutions where quarantine centres were/are setup are to be thoroughly sanitized. Sanitization should not merely be limited to the school building and it should include the entire premises, desks and benches, toilets etc. it should be an extensive sanitization.
• Schools shall not be opened in containment zones till further instructions from the Govt.
• Students/teachers/school administrators who have been quarantined (home/institutional) can attend school provided they produce medical fitness certificate relating to COVID-19 issued by competent medical authority. Care must also be taken to avoid stigmatizing of students and staff who have been exposed to COVID-19.
• Whenever any single COVID-19 positive case is detected in the school premises and thereafter the school should be opened next day only for COVID 19 testing (R.A.T) of the students teaching, non-teaching staff, cooks cum helper etc. The District Administration/ SMC/SMDC/ Head of the Institution shall jointly take necessary steps for R.A.T.
• Whenever multiple COVID-19 positive cases are detected in the school premises and thereafter immediately the school/Educational institution will be closed for a period of 7(seven) days. Subsequently after closure of the school/ educational institution the school building including the entire premises desk and benches, toilet stations/ drinking water station etc., should be thoroughly sanitized. Thereafter, after 7(seven) days the school will be re-opened with due permission from Deputy Commissioner of the District
• In respect of private educational institutions social/physical distancing shall be maintained and buses will carry 1/3 intake of the students in the bus. The school buses should be properly sanitized twice daily.
• In respect of those educational institutions which do not have potable water/drinking water facilities/stations, the school shall not be re-opened on 2nd November’ 2020 and decision in this connection will be taken by Deputy Commissioner of the District.

3. Attendance of students must not be enforced and shall be purely based on parental consent.
4. The staggered timetable for colleges are as follows:
a) Staggered time table will be followed regarding which final decision will be taken by the
college authority.
b) Student of UG first semester will have their classes on Monday and Thursday.
c) Student of UG third semester will have their classes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
d) Student of UG fifth semester will have their classes on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
e) On Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday the college shall arrange for the classes in such a way so as to avoid too much crowding of the college campus. For example, college may conduct the classes of third and fifth semester in two shifts, i.e. Day (8.30 AM to 12.30 PM) and Afternoon (1 PM to 5 PM)
f) Students who are unable to attend classes in their respective colleges because of some extreme circumstances may opt to attend classes in a college of their locality with prior permission from the concerned authorities of both the colleges. However, this should be taken as a temporary measure.
g) For PG Classes the college will follow the guidelines of the parent University/UGC.

• Online mode of education will continue for students who prefer to attend online classes rather than physically attend schools/Colleges.
• The health, hygiene and safety protocols of COVID-19 as issued by the Health & Family Welfare Department/NHM, Assam has to be followed in coordination with the District Administration.
• Every School/College authority should coordinate with the nearest Health Centre/Joint Director of Health service, in case of emergency and related health checkup.
• Students commuting in School/College transport should feel safe and all safety protocols to
  be followed.
• Use of face cover/masks by students, teachers, staff and all stakeholders is mandatory and there should be thorough sanitization and cleaning of all areas inside the School/College premises prior to re-opening. Working hand washing facilities should be available in the School/College and Coaching Institutes.

SOP for Universities:
The University situated within the State of Assam will prepare their individual SOP for attending classes by the students within the University Campus strictly following the protocols of Covid-19 and the guidelines issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI vide order No.40-3/2020-DM- 1(A), Dtd. 30/9/2020.

For details SOP, click here