Schools In UP To Reopen From Oct 19 For Classes 9-12, Yogi Govt Issues SOPs For Students & Teachers; Know The Guidelines Here

The UP government has directed schools to hold classes in shifts and students coming to attend the class will need a compulsory permission letter from parents.

The Yogi Adityanath government announced on Saturday about the reopening of schools from October 19 in Uttar Pradesh. The schools of all boards and situated outside containment zones will reopen after remaining shut for over six months in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. Also Read|'No Religious Education With Govt Funds' Says Himanta Biswa As Assam Decides To Shut Down State-Run Madrassas, Sanskrit Tols As per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the state government can reopen schools for higher classes from October 15 following all necessary protocols to prevent the spread of Covid 19 in the country. The UP government also issued guidelines to be followed by schools and the students from October 19. These are the SOPs issued by the Yogi government:

• Classes will be held in shifts and all necessary protocols including social distancing and proper sanitisation of premises will have to be followed by schools
• “In the first phase, Classes 9 to 12 may start in these schools. The schools must run in two shifts of smaller durations, to ensure student safety,” deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma said.
• In the first shift, students of Classes 9 and 10 may come to school, while in the second shift, students of Classes 11 and 12 may attend classes.
• A maximum of 50 per cent of students should be called in a day and the remaining 50 per cent the following day.
• Students will only be allowed to attend classes after furnishing written permission from their parents or guardians, the government said.
• Before reopening, schools will have to undertake proper sanitisation and this exercise is mandatory before every shift on a regular basis.
• In case of symptoms of cold or fever in any student, teacher, or other employees, they will be sent home after primary treatment.
• All teachers, students, and workers should compulsorily use masks and the school management should keep reserve masks.
• Directives have also been issued to continue online teaching and encouraging it. Priority should be given to calling those students to school who do not have access to online teaching.

Additional chief secretary, Secondary Education, Aradhana Shukla, has issued an order in this connection and a standard operating procedure (SOP) on health, sanitation, and necessary protocols has already been issued for the reopening of schools, a statement from the state government said.