Tamil Nadu Govt Mandates 100% Vaccination Of Teachers, Staff Ahead Of Reopening Of Schools

The school education department has tentatively announced that the schools will be reopened from September 1

Schools to reopen for IX to XII students in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: At a time when Tamil Nadu government has been planning to reopen the schools for classes IX to XII, the health department has released the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that need to be followed before reopening the schools. It mandates 100% vaccination of teachers, school staff and eligible students.

According to reports, the state government is likely to make an official announcement regarding the school reopening dates on August 20. However, the school education department has tentatively announced that the schools will be reopened from September 1. 

The guidelines from the director of public health and preventive medicine directed the school management to ensure proper cleaning and sanitation facilities in the schools premises. 

The government order said that seating arrangements at the classrooms should be made in such a way to ensure at least six feet distance between the students and preferably one student per bench norm should be followed. In case of pleasant weather, outdoor spaces could be used for taking classes, the order added. 

Explaining that announcements should be made through public announcement systems to make students aware of the covid-19 guidelines, the order said that the posters of the guidelines should be stuck at appropriate places in the school like classrooms, near hand washing stations, drinking water areas etc. 

The order had directed the school management to admit only 50% of the students at a time and the students could be asked to come either on alternative days or every two days in a week. Schools should not conduct any events where maintaining social distance is difficult and celebrations should be avoided, the order added. 

The order also directed the schools to sensitize the teachers, schools staff, parents and students about the covid-19 guidelines. The order said, “thermal screening should be done, both students and teachers belonging to containment zones should not attend the schools and avoid attending schools upon witnessing covid symptoms.”