Srinagar: Amid surge in COVID-19 cases, the government on Saturday said that only 50 percent of attendance of the staff in all educational institutions of Jammu and Kashmir shall be allowed.
Besides, the government also ordered closure of all technical training institutions for in-person and on-campus education.
The order of allowing only fifty percent of staff attendance in all educational establishments was issued a day after the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reported about the nearly sixty thousands government teachers in Kashmir who were making their ways to reach respective schools only to teach students through online classes amid pandemic.
Meanwhile, the State Executive Committee (SEC) in an order said, “In continuation to previous government order, it is ordered that the technical training institutions falling under the department of Skill development and Technical Education shall remain closed for on-campus and in-person education till May-15.”
SEC said that online education shall be the mode of teaching. The orders further states, “During the closure of all educational institutions that includes school, colleges, universities and technical educational institutions, the attendance of staff in person shall be restricted to 50 percent only.”
“All heads of institutions shall devise rosters to ensure this, as per directions to be issued by the school, higher education department in this regard,” it reads.
SEC also said that such staff of educational institutions as are needed by the concerned District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMA), District Magistrates for official duties shall not be exempted from duties on account of this Order.
“The gathering limit as ordered shall continue to remain in force,” it reads. Pertinently, KNO was the first to run a detailed story that the government should review its decision of making it mandatory for teachers to attend the schools. Many teachers while speaking to KNO had stated that if government wants to break the chain, it should allow the teachers to stay home and focus on online mode of teaching—(KNO)
