LUCKNOW: All
schools in UP would get back to function normally from March 1, almost a year after the rampaging coronavirus enforced the closure. Chief minister
Yogi Adityanath on Friday issued directives to restart regular school for classes 6 to 8 from February 10 and for classes 1 to 5 from March 1.
A government order issued by additional chief secretary (basic education) Renuka Kumar will be applicable on private schools as well and has advised schools to strictly follow Covid norms. As per government records, 1.8 crore children are enrolled in 1.5 lakh primary and upper primary schools while close to 2 crore are admitted in private schools across the state.
After the approval from the chief minister’s office, the education department is finalising the standard operating procedures (SOPs) which will be announced today. “We are working on intricacies like the number of shifts to be conducted and students to be permitted on one day,” said director general, school education, Vijay Kiran Anand.
Government officials said safety of students would be ensured as classes would be sanitized before the schools reopen and regular sanitation would take place after every shift. Schools will have to ensure arrangements for thermal scanning, masks, social distancing and first aid before students walk in.
The Covid-induced lockdown caused a massive blow to the education sector. The students were not only deprived of basic classroom learning but also failed to be a part of co-curricular and recreational activities. To bring back the academic session on track and to bring back life in educational institutions, the government has decided to reopen schools as well as higher
educational institutions in a proper way.
Gearing up for the restart, schools, particularly those run by the government, have undergone a transformation. Government officials said over 80% primary schools now have improved washrooms and proper handwashing facilities. “In most schools, washrooms have multiple handwash dispensers to ensure overall hygiene. The schools have also been made more appealing with vibrant wall paintings. Teaching-learning material has been made available beforehand,” said basic shiksha adhikari, Lucknow,
Dinesh Kumar.
In addition, facilities like smart classes and provision of 'Sahaj’ books to children are being made in schools. In Lucknow, 100 schools out of 1,642 have smart classes running for children. The ‘Sahaj’ books, for classes 1 to 3 that contain stories along with pictures will provide a different learning experience and will also help the students to develop a habit of regular reading, said officials.