Govt gives nod to reopen educational institutes
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 09 2021: The State has given a green signal to re-open schools, colleges and other educational institutes from November 10 for classes IX and above including all UGs and PGs courses.

All educational institutions were first closed from May 1 upto May 31 as 'summer vacation' due to rising COVID-19 cases but was extended indefinitely as the Covid curve showed no sign of decline.

An order signed by M Harekrishna, Commissioner (Education -S/Higher and Technical Education), said the reopening of schools, colleges and other educational institutes shall be subject to observance of all SOP or guidelines issued by the Health Department to avoid infection.

The order added that the attendance of students must not be enforced and shall be purely based on parental consent while teaching hours will be limited to three to four hours for both online and physical classes.

No cultural or sports events will be permitted and school/colleges/institutes' specific arrangement regarding the compliance of SOP has to be settled at the level of the head of the school/college/institute.

Vaccination of staff and students are encouraged and all non-vaccinated teaching and non-teaching staff including those who got only the 1st dose of the vaccine are to be tested for COVID-19 every 20 day and submit the RT-PCR reports to the head of the institutions, added the order.

All Deputy Commissioners have also been directed to constitute a district level task force committee with the concerned DC as chairman to monitor the resumption and safe operations of all educational institutions in the district.

The task force committee shall be responsible for assessment of COVID-19 situation, ensuring enforcement of SOP and feasibility of school/college/reopening, added the order.

All the schools/colleges/educational institutes should also have to provide isolation facilities and tie up with the nearest health centre/Joint Director of Health Service in case of emergency and related health check-up.

The order also directed the educational institutes to strictly follow the social distancing norms with a limited number of benches per classroom.

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