Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government, on Friday, ordered re-opening of schools in the Union Territory (UT) from February-8 and March-1-2021 in Jammu division and Kashmir Division respectively.
An order, in this regard, was issued by the Administrative Secretary to Government for School Education Department, B K. Singh. “All government educational institutions including recognized private schools shall physically open in a staggered manner for academic activities. Summer Zone areas of Jammu Division for Class 9th to 12th on February-01,” reads the order.
Singh in the order also said that in case of elementary classes, teachers shall attend with immediate effect from February-1-2021 for preparation and students shall physically attend classes from February-8-2021.
“Schools of Kashmir division and winter zone areas of Jammu division will open as per their schedule that is on March-1,” he said.
He said that the COVID-19 Standard Operation Procedures (SOP’s) shall be followed in letter and spirit in addition to suggestions of District Disaster Management Authorities.
Singh said that for the ownership of the initiative, a local committee needs to be framed per school comprising of Parents, VEC members, SMC members and other prominent persons from the habitation for monitoring and support of the School.
The SOP’s for students and staff issued include maintaining a gap of two meters and in case of non-availability of such space, staggered schedule or shift timings and student rotation can be an option.
All students and Teachers should wear masks, hand washing points with proper soap should be made available for the students and teachers besides safe water, cleaning supplies, sanitation of space and hands, establish or expand sex segregated toilets or latrines and other SoP’s should be followed properly, the order said.
