The reopening of educational institutions in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts after the summer vacation has been postponed to June 12 as a preventive measure against the Nipah viral infection.
Kozhikode District Collector U.V. Jose, who announced the decision here on Saturday, said the order would be applicable for all educational institutions including professional colleges in the district.
Though the district administration earlier postponed the reopening of schools from June 1 to June 5, school authorities and parent-teacher associations wanted it to be deferred. Many representatives voiced their concerns directly to the Education Minister and the higher authorities of the Education Department.
The managements of various private schools too had called for extending the reopening date, considering the health risk.
They had pointed out parents were having huge concerns about their children’s safety and the lack of proper medicines to save lives.
Curbs on meetings
The restrictions imposed on holding public meetings, conventions and training programmes too will be in place till June 12.
The private sector will be urged to implement the directives issued by the district administration in this regard.
Cooperating with the guidelines, various religious communities too have come up with their own initiatives to prevent the spread of viral infections during prayer gatherings and meetings. Employees from some private institutions in the city said they were granted long leave as part of precautionary measures.
Staff Reporter from Malappuram writes:
Malappuram District Collector Amit Meena on Saturday said though the situation was under control and there was no cause for worry in the wake of the Nipah infection, the reopening of all educational institutions in the district was put off on the advice of the Health authorities.
Mr. Meena said his order would be binding on all institutions, including professional colleges, CBSE and ICSE schools, tuition centres, entrance coaching centres, madrasas and anganwadis. Revenue Divisional Officers have been authorised to take action against those who violate the order.
All public and government programmes in the district have been cancelled. Teachers do not have to attend schools during the holidays, according to the Collector’s order.
Trauma care volunteers will visit houses in the district as part of spreading awareness against Nipah virus and dispelling misconceptions about it.
Mr. Meena presided over a meeting of the Nipah task force held here on Saturday. The services of 36,000 trauma care volunteers will be made use of for quelling misconceptions about the virus. “What we need is vigil, not fear,” said Saheer Mohammed, a doctor at the Government Medical College, Manjeri.