Govt nod to offline classes for senior school students

Ranchi: The state government on Friday allowed schools, colleges and universities to reopen offline teaching for senior classes and also allowed offline examinations of competitive examinations conducted by the state and the Centre.
The state disaster management authority (SDMA), which met under chief minister Hemant Soren at Jharkhand Mantralaya (Project Building) in the evening, also tweaked the weekend lockdown clauses.
“All shops will be allowed to remain open till 8pm. Restaurants and bars can remain open till 10pm. Between 8pm on Saturdays and 6am on Mondays, all shops shall remain closed except vegetable and fruit sellers, grocery stores, restaurants, bars, establishments selling food and beverages and essential items,” the government said in a statement.
The SDMA also allowed inter-state public bus services and allowed private and government offices to resume business with 100% attendance of their employees.
Cinema halls, bars, multiplexes and restaurants were allowed to reopen for business with 50% sitting capacities. The cap of attendees at marriage ceremonies was raised to 100 people. However, swimming pools, places of worship, anganwadi centres, social and political congregations, fairs and exhibitions will continue to remain banned, the SDMA said.
While all commercial establishments were cleared to remain open till 8pm, schools were allowed to reopen classes for students of classes IX to XII. Colleges and universities were allowed to conduct offline classes for third-year undergraduate and final-year postgraduate students. The colleges and universities were also allowed to conduct offline examinations. Private coaching centres have been allowed to start their offline classes for students aged 18 and above.
“Schools will need to seek consent from the parents. Offline classes will be held only for four hours and up to 12pm. Teaching and non-teaching staff at the schools and colleges can be present. ITIs, polytechnic colleges and skill development centres can also open but the students (above 18 years) will have to get at least one dose of the vaccine,” a statement issued by the state government said.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Soren said relaxations were given after considering the current Covid-19 scenario in the state. “However, the cases can surge again. I urge all residents of the state to remain vigilant, wear masks while venturing in public and remain socially distant,” Soren said.