Schools, colleges reopen, SOPs in kaput
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 27 2021: Even as classrooms maintained COVID-19 SOPs as schools and colleges resume classes for Class IX and above today after months of shutdown, students were found not paying much attention to the safety guidelines outside the classrooms.

Notably, schools, colleges and universities were closed in March end last year in view of COVID-19 pandemic and after months, the Government had decided to reopen them for select classes from today.

The Government had also instructed schools and colleges to follow and enforce strict COVID Appropriate Behaviours.

To observe the reopening of the educational institutes, this reporter visited several schools and colleges today.

Schools, colleges reopen, SOPs in kaput

At Tamphasana Girls' High School at Nityaipat Chuthek, this reporter found teachers conducting physical classes for Class XI students.

To maintain safe distance between students, each class was found accommodating a maximum of 30-35 students with one student per bench.

One bottle of hand sanitiser was found kept inside each classroom.

Even though COVID Appropriate Behaviour was followed inside the classrooms, once the bell rings, the students were witnessed rushing out-some joining hands, some in arms.

They were freely mingling with their classmates and students outside their class bubble.

A water tank with soap was found kept inside the campus for students to wash their hands, but the washrooms of the school were found without soaps.

Students were found going in the washroom in group.

The school is conducting classes in two shifts-evening from 8 am to 11 am and morning from 12 pm to 3 pm, said its Principal Ayekpam Sangeeta.

The Education Department has provided the school with face masks, however the students are also coming to the school putting on their own face masks.

Consent from the parents is mandatory for their wards to attend school.

Students are also instructed to wash their hands in the school, she said.

This reporter also found the Red Cross Society Manipur conducting COVID-19 awareness programme at the school.

The awareness programme was organised to encourage students and teachers to follow COVID-19 related safety guidelines issued by the health Department, said secretary of the Red Cross Society Manipur, RK Nimai.

One of the parents who was also at the school to drop off their children said they are happy at the Government for reopening schools and colleges.

The parents also appealed to the teachers and students to follow the COVID-19 SOPs strictly.

At Dhanamanjuri College of Arts, DMU, a 2-day 'general interaction cum induction programme' was going on at the campus.

The classes at the college will start from January 29 after completion of the 2 day programme, said a teacher.

Most of the students of DM College of Science were found attending the college, but classes have not been started, they said.

The students were found hanging out in groups.