Assam govt issues SOP for reopening of schools & colleges for Class 9 to 12 from 21 Sept

Sept. 16: The Government of Assam in Secondary Education Department has notified the Standard Operating Procedure for fresh re-opening of schools in the state from class IX , X, XI to XII in the Schools and Colleges maintaining all the protocols of safety Guidelines under COVID-19 pandemic. The Standard Operating Procedure issued on 16 September will come into effect from 21 September, 2020 and shall be operative for a period of 15 (fifteen) days. Subsequently, the SOP will be modified after observing the situation for 15 (fifteen) days of time from 21 September, 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions to the educational system and student-teacher classroom — learning and interaction. There is a severe impact on a child’s ability to learn. Furthermore, learning online and through other channels has a limited reach and impact,especially amongst the most vulnerable section of the students. Educational Institutions are closed from 15th March, 2020 and though online teaching is ongoing but due to various constraints all the students could not be covered. The students studying in class-XII particularly students of Science and other streams have to appear in the professional and competitive qualifying examination for admission in various professional courses. To prepare them to face the competitive examination it is felt that the classroom classes for them should be started and also in respect of the students who will be appearing for the ensuing HSLC examination.

The Government of Assam had extended the Academic year till 31 March 2021 and subsequently w.e.f. 01 April to 31 March of every year, primarily to recover the loss in Academic days and also to bring the session at par with all India level. In view of the above and in pursuance of the SOP prepared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, the SOP for the State of Assam, for fresh re-opening Schools for students of class IX, X, XI and Class XII is mentioned below:

General Guidelines:

1. From 21 September, 2020 reopening of schools and colleges will commence.
2. Students from class IX, X, XI & XII will be part of this reopening exercise.
3. All other classes will remain suspended
4. For the students of class IX & XII classes will be conducted on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
5. For the class X & XI classes will be conducted on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
6. For every class, the students should be divided into 2 batches, of course, when in any class, total number of students is less than 20, then division in batch will not be required.
7. First batch of students will come to school at 9.00 am and they will be there in the schools up to 12.00 noon, for the 2nd batch of Students, the classes will be from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm.
8. School authority will ensure that before commencing informal class of the 2nd batch, the first batch students are send back home.
9. Students will come to the school provided their parents have no objection and as such written undertaking/ confirmation from the parents should be produced in the schools.
10. Total number of teaching and non-teaching staff should be restricted to 50%.
11. Teachers with severe Comorbid condition such as chronic kidney disease, type two diabetics with severe condition, heart surgery and suffering from cancer will be exempted by the Head of the institutions from attending schools. Head of the institutions will be in touch with Health Authority for regular random checking, random testing of the teachers and students on weekly basis covering maximum 10% of the teachers and students in the given date.
12. The Head of the Institutions will submit information on weekly basis, regarding number of teachers and students tested positive during the randomize testing if the number are more than reasonable the head of the institution will discuss the matter with the Director of Higher Education, Assam and Director of Secondary Education, Assam in order to see whether class will continue or it will be suspended.
13. A State Help line maintained by Samagra Siksha Abhiyan (SSA), Kahilipara, Guwahati-19 will be notified in the leading newspapers. In case, teachers need some clarification, this helpline shall be kept open during the working hours, and should be mentioned in the advertisement itself.
14. The SOP that will be effective from 21 September, 2020, will be modified after observing the situation for next 15 days of time.

After opening of the schools:

• Entrance to have mandatory hand hygiene (sanitizer dispenser) and thermal screening provisions. Multiple gates/ separate gates, if feasible, should be used for entry and exit.
• Only asymptomatic persons (teachers, employees and students) to be allowed in the premises. If a teacher /employee/ student is found to be symptomatic, he/ she should be referred to nearest health center.
• Posters/ standees on preventive measures about COVID-19 to be displayed prominently.
• Proper crowd management in the parking lots, in corridors and in elevators — duly following physical distancing norms shall be organized.
• Entry of visitors should be strictly regulated/ restricted.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS SOP for reopening of schools in Assam