The Gujarat government on Wednesday announced that schools would be reopened for the students of standard 9 to 12 and colleges for final year students from November 23 after more than six months due to the pandemic.
The Cabinet directed the school management and education authorities to ensure that social distancing norms are observed in the classrooms.
All students and teachers will have to wear face masks throughout the day.
“At a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, it was decided to reopen the schools and colleges. Earlier I had discussed this with the officials of my department, education experts, academics and other stakeholders,” said Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama.
“All institutions will have to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the Centre and the State authorities,” he said.
“The Principals of all educational institutions will ensure that all SOPs are in place and followed in letter and spirit. The teaching staff and all students coming to the institutions will be checked for body temperatures through thermal guns.”
For physical distancing, the government has given the institutions the option of odd-even formula and alternate-day teaching so that students keep safe distance.
“In the first stage, classes for postgraduate, medical and paramedical students will be resumed. Moreover, classes of only final year students of undergraduate courses will be resumed. In engineering streams also, classes of final year students will resume. Similarly, ITIs and polytechnics will be reopened,” he said.
“The present system of providing online education will also have to be continued by the institutes.”
According to him, the decision was taken considering all aspects including the future of students.
The Minister said though attendance by students will not be mandatory, schools and colleges will have to obtain written consent from parents on a form provided by the government.