Meghalaya govt issues guidelines for reopening of schools; read more

SHILLONG | SEPT 18, 2020:

The Meghalaya government has on Thursday, issued guidelines pertaining to re-opening of schools in the state, in pursuance to the order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on August 29 and in compliance to its direction on reopening more activities in areas outside the Containment Zones.

This notification shall come into immediate effect until further order.

Here are the guidelines:

1. Regular class activities for schools, colleges, educational institutions will continue to remain closed up to 30th September 2020. However, the following activities will be permitted:

(i) Schools will be permitted to open for activities, such as teacher-student counselling, clearing doubts, addressing hard spots, sharing unit lesson plans, assignments, submission of works, student assessment programme, etc.

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(ii)All schools are to prepare a Continuous Learning Plan (CLP) to ensure all students are learning.

(iii) Online/distance learning shall continue to be permitted and encouraged.

(iv) All schools to develop a 50% attendance schedule/roster duty of teaching and non-teaching staff.

(v) Only students of classes 9 to 12 are permitted to visit their schools, in areas outside the containment zone only, on a voluntary basis for taking guidance from their teachers. This will be subject to the written consent of their parents/guardians and will be permitted with effect from 21st September 2020 and mandatory compliance to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

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(vi) Elementary school teachers are to attend schools as per their Roster duty chart developed by the school for the compulsory transaction of daily/weekly lesson plans/worksheet/etc. distribution at the school campus and submission of assignments/lessons accordingly via online or through parental distribution at the school campus.

(vii) Schools are to develop their individual micro-planning relating to flexibility in school timings, scheduling of students' visit and uniform code.

(viii) Schools are advised to ensure short duration visits of students.

ix) The adjusted academic calendar is uploaded in the education department website (www.megeducation.gov.in) and also at the  MBOSE website (www.mbose.in).

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(x) School buses, if utilized, will be exempted from odd /even rule.

2. Here are the generic preventive measures (simple public health measures) that are to be followed:

• Physical distancing of at least 6-feet to be followed as far as feasible.
• Use of face covers/masks to be made mandatory.
• Frequent hand washing with soap and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
• Respiratory etiquette like covering one's mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing with a tissue/handkerchief/flexed elbow to be followed.
• Prior to resumption of activities, teaching/demonstrations etc., shall be sanitized with 1 per cent sodium hypochlorite solution.

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• The school should display State helpline numbers and also numbers of local health authorities etc. to teachers /students/employees to contact in case of any emergency.
• Appropriate backup stock of personal protection items like face covers/masks, visors, hand sanitizers etc. shall be made available by management to the teachers and students.
• Ensure availability of sufficient covered dustbins and trash cans.
• Housekeeping employee to be informed and trained about norms for waste management & disposal.
• Entrance to have mandatory hand hygiene (sanitizer dispenser) and thermal screening provisions. Multiple gates/separate gates, if feasible, should be used for entry and exit.
• Posters/standees on preventive measures about COVID-19 to be displayed prominently.
• Proper crowd management should be followed and entry of visitors should be strictly regulated/restricted.
• Sharing of items like notebooks, pens/pencils, erasers, water bottles, etc. amongst students should not be allowed.

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• Regular cleaning and disinfection (using 1 per cent sodium hypochlorite) of frequently touched surfaces. Provision of soap in toilets and hand sanitizers in other common areas in sufficient quantity must be ensured.
• Teaching materials, computers, laptops, printers, shall be disinfected with 70 per cent alcohol/wipes.
• Students should not be involved in any of the cleaning activities for health safety reasons.
• Sensitise students, parents, teachers and employees to create awareness on COVID appropriate behaviour, as detailed under generic measures.
• If a student, teacher or employee is sick, they should not come to the school and follow necessary protocols in this regard.
• Parents will be solely responsible to maintain students' hygiene (uniform, tiffin, bags, etc.).

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