Schools to reopen in Sikkim from Oct 19, Govt cancels winter vacation

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GANGTOK:

The Sikkim Government on Thursday decided to reopen schools with effect from October 19, 2020.

Government schools in the State have been functioning since September 21, 2020, with 50% of the teaching and non-teaching staff members attending the workplace and students from classes IX to XII attending classes voluntarily (with the written consent of their parents).

The Government of India had allowed States to open schools from October 15, 2020, with 100% attendance of teaching and non-teaching staff and students of Classes IX to XII attending voluntarily.

The Ministry of Education had also issued SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for the safety and wellbeing of the students and staff members.

Relevant SOPs of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Union Government and the SOPs prepared by the Education Department of Sikkim have issued basic guidelines while conducting the activities in schools after the reopening, in a graded manner.

Classes IX to XII will continue voluntarily with the written permission of the parents/guardians.

Classes VI to VIII will resume with students attending voluntarily with the consent of their parents from November 2, 2020.

Classes III to V may resume from November 23, 2020, subject to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

The Education department has also circulated the guidelines for reopening of hostels for all management (Government and Non-Government) establishments maintaining hostels in the State.

The government has cancelled winter holidays, and classes will function on all working days while Saturday will be a half-day.

Meanwhile, all notified Government holidays will be observed by the Schools.

The next academic session, which was supposed to begin on February 02, 2021, will now begin on February 15, 2021. The current academic session shall end on February 13, 2021.