Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Nov 20: As the classes for IX and X are scheduled to reopen on November 23, teachers in the city have been queuing up to get tested for COVID-19. But in order to avoid overcrowding and long queues, teachers have demanded adequate testing centres.

Teachers are mandated to get RT-PCR test done and acquire a negative certificate before taking classes in the classrooms as per the SOPs issued by the government. The education department has entrusted the local bodies to facilitate testing for teachers.

At the state run centres in Mumbai, teachers have been given permission to get tested for free. However, teachers have complained that there are not adequate centres to get themselves tested in such a short span. "There are several parts of the state where the resources for COVID tests are limited and teachers are queuing up and spending long hours to get a test done. The government should increase the number of centres and dedicate a few teachers since they have a deadline to meet," Anil Bornare, president of the BJP teachers' cell said.