Unlock 5.0 guidelines: Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank issues SOPs for reopening of schools

Union Education Minister has released broad guidelines for the reopening of the schools across the country. 

Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has released the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and School reopening guidelines prepared by the Department Of School Education & Literacy For Reopening Of Schools, Education Ministry. The Education Minister has released guidelines in line with the Unlock 5.0 protocols released by the Home Ministry to reopen schools from October 15 in a graded manner. The Home Ministry had earlier allowed the states and Union Terrorities across India to reopen the schools in a graded manner within their jurisdiction after a thorough assessment of the COVID-19 situation. 

Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal said that his Ministry has prepared broad guidelines for the reopening of schools across the country keeping the safety of the students as its top priority. However, he said, while ensuring the complete safety of students, it is also important that ‘Suraksha’ and ‘Shiksha’ should go hand-in-hand and that academic continuity is maintained for the students.

Minister also added that the pandemic has affected the vulnerable sections of our society the hardest and therefore while reopening of schools, state governments, officials, school administrators and educators need to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable students, including homeless and migrant children and those directly affected by COVID-19, are given priority.

As per the SOPs, complete and thorough disinfection of all areas, furniture, equipment, stationery, storage places, water tanks, kitchens, canteen, washrooms, laboratories, libraries, etc. should be done on the school campus. Moreover, to ensure proper ventilation, schools have been asked to ensure proper airflow in indoor spaces on the campus. It has also directed the school administration to set up dedicated task force teams to handle contingency situations that will arise after the reopening of schools. Guidelines call for setting up teams such as Emergency Care Support/Response Team, General Support Team for all stakeholders, Commodity Support Team, Hygiene Inspection Team, etc. Moreover, responsibilities and tasks that are to be handled by these teams need to identify and instructed the members before the opening of schools.

The guidelines also suggested the re-orientation of the seating arrangement plan in line with the social distancing norms. Moreover, schools have been asked to follow staggered entry and exit timings and flexible time table to avoid crowding on campus that may compromise on physical distancing.

The Education Minister also urged schools to develop their own guidelines and SOPs in addition to the ones that are prescribed by it or the health ministry, keeping in mind the local situation. Schools have also been asked to communicate the same to students and their parents through notices/posters/messages/and any other form of communication. All students and staff to arrive at school wearing a face cover/mask and continue wearing it all through, especially when in class, or doing any activity in groups, such as eating in the mess, working in the laboratories, or reading in the libraries.

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