Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Sep 29: The department of public instruction has begun the process of reopening the schools which have been closed because of coronavirus pandemic. The state department of state educational research and training (DSERT) has prepared a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the same.

DSERT has come out with a plan of action for maintaining the social distance between two students. As per the guideline, school premises should be cleaned with disinfectant. If the number of students is low, classes can be held the whole day by maintaining a minimum distance of one metre. In schools where the student strength is more, classes can be held from 8 to 12 in the morning session and 1 to 5 pm in the afternoon session. Five periods of 40 minutes duration can be conducted with a 30-minute recess after the third period.

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If there is more than one school in a compound, if the school so wants, all the rooms can be used. For junior classes, one shift for junior classes, and another shift for senior classes can be arranged. Or both the classes can be held in two shifts. If this system fails to address the issue of maintaining distance, schools can be run once in two days. If there is a shortage of teachers to adapt to this system, a proposal should be sent to block education officers to hire guest teachers.

At the entry point of the school, circles should be marked with a gap of three feet each. The students should be made to move about by always maintaining three feet distance. After they wash their hands with sanitizer or soaps, body temperature should be measured with thermal scanners. If there is a fever, they should be given attendance and sent back home. Every bench can accommodate two students. Everywhere including prayers, toilet, midday meal etc, space should be marked and distance should be maintained. In school buses, buses up to 50 per cent of the capacity can be carried.

Before school opening, school development and monitoring committee members should be informed Class-wise parents meetings should be convened and they should be convinced of the rules.

Health club: A health club should be formed with the involvement of teachers and students. The school fund can be used for its activities.

The guidelines say that the parents need to take all steps to protect the students from infection, wearing of face masks is compulsory. Masks can be made with cotton clothes at home. Two masks should be brought to be replaced once in three hours. Washed masks can be reused, it says.

Primary and secondary education minister S Suresh Kumar said that SOP has been prepared relating to steps to be followed when schools reopen. "We will obtain opinions of everyone and take the decision after assessing all probabilities," he added.