By Vinay Mehra
@the_news_21
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh School Education department on Sunday announced the opening up of classes for 9 and 10 from August 5. The department in a tweet said that class 9 and 10 will remain open twice in a week. The department will soon release Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) soon. Further, the department has already opened classes 11 and 12 since July 26. It also clarified that online classes will continue as usual.
Meanwhile, school associations have not decided anything about school reopening. “We have not taken any decision about it. Our online classes will continue,” said Vinny Raj Modi, vice-president, MP Association of unaided private schools. Missionary schools have also decided to keep their schools closed.
“As of now our schools are not opening,” said Sojan Jospeh, secretary, Bhopal Sahodaya Complex. There are 72 CBSE affiliated schools in Bhopal including 26 missionary schools.
*Schools, buses to operate on 50% attendance with Covid protocols*
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday had said that class 9 and 10 are also being started from August 5. At present these classes will be held for only two days in a week. Sources said that the SOPs for opening class 9 and 10 will be the same as it was for class 11 and 12.
Sources said that class 9 students will go to school on Saturday and class 10 students can attend on Wednesday. Tuesdays and Fridays are for class 11 and Monday and Thursday for Class 12. Parental consent is mandatory for students to attend offline classes.
As announced by the CM earlier, there can be 50% attendance in school on any given day. School buses will be allowed, but with no more than 50% occupancy. In other protocols, schools must ensure Covid protocols are to be strictly followed, and classrooms, toilets, other facilities and buses are adequately sanitized.
No gathering will be allowed which means no morning assembly. Swimming lessons will also be prohibited too. The SOPs will make schools accountable for vaccination of all employees. “It will be the responsibility of the school principal to ensure that teaching staff and other employees are vaccinated at the scheduled time. Action will be taken against principals who fail to follow the instructions on vaccination,” sources added.
It will also be mandatory for schools to get hostel staff vaccinated too. The accommodation and other facilities, particularly washrooms, must be sanitized and cleaned thoroughly before opening classes for 9 and 10. Coaching classes for class 12 may also be allowed to open from August 5.
