No provision for opening schools at present - Education Minister
Source: IT News

Imphal, September 11 2020: Even though the Union government has constituted an SOP for partial opening of the schools from September 21, there is no provision for opening of the schools as for the government of Manipur, Education Minister Th Radheshyam today said speaking to media persons clarifying the doubts among the people of the state.

He said that the Director General of the Health Services of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (EMR Division) issued an SOP on September 8 for partial reopening of Schools for students of class IX to XII on partial basis on a voluntary basis for taking guidance from their teachers in the context of COVID-19 .

No provision for opening schools at present - Education Minister

The Education Minister said that the SOP is to take voluntary guidance from the teachers and not to conduct classes.

The Health Ministry after taking assessment of the situation across the country issued the SOP as they are the authority.

This SOP will be again issued by the Home ministry and after receiving the SOP the state government after consulting the situation will decide on whether to open the schools or not.

Unfortunately this SOP, without going into details has been misinterpreted and rumours which has not been stated are being spread.

The Minister said that the government has not yet decided to open school as of now and spreading rumours without proper understanding may create chaos to the students and their parents.

He said that the department is rolling head on how to arrange the seats for students if in case the schools are open.

Discussion are on which class will first open at which kind of schools as some schools have large number of students while some don't have much.

As there may by problem in seat arrangement in schools like Johnstone, Ram Lal Paul and some other private school the department authority has been discussing about it with various stakeholders and students' bodies at present.

"There is no question of opening the school right at the moment", Education Minister Radheshyam clarified speaking to media persons.

The Minister further said that if in case there is a need to open the school, it will be base on the SOPs which says to take voluntary guidance from the teachers.

And for that the state Education department in consultation with the Chief Minister will prepare another SOP for the state.

He also stated that the condition will be on voluntary basis.

The student if refuse can restrain from attending the school for taking guidance.

On the other hand the school will also take consent of the parents.

He appealed all school authorities not to open the school or hostels until the state issue a new SOP.