Kohima, February 8: After almost a year of remaining shut due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools across Nagaland resumed regular session for students of classes 6 to 12 from today.
Principal Director of School Education Department, Shanavas C said that “people have welcomed the resumption of schools for classes 6 and above while children could be seen happily going to schools”.
He said that the laid down SOPs for opening of schools is for both government and private institutions to ensure the safety of all, including teachers, students and other employees.
In government schools, Shanavas said that COVID-19 kits have been provided through Samagra Shiksha, a flagship program of the Central government.
The department would also monitor and supervise private schools and if there are reports of any institutions not following the SOP, we would approach them with necessary measures and guidance, he said.
On opening of lower classes 5 and below, he said that the present arrangement would continue for about a month and only after being confident that the schools are ensuring all SOPs and also there are no COVID-19 cases detected in schools the department would take a call on resuming the lower sections.
Principal Secretary (Home) Abhijit Sinha had on February 1 issued the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for re-opening of schools for students of classes 6 to 12 in the State on the preventive measures to contain spread of COVID-19 and for strict compliance by all concerned throughout the state of Nagaland from February 8.
The SOP while stressing on the safety of the students, teachers and all others concerned maintained that the generic preventive measures, including simple public health actions to reduce the risk of COVID-19 need to be observed by all teachers, employees and students in these places at all times.
Physical distancing of at least 6 feet, mandatory use of face covers or masks, frequent hand washing with soap even when hands are not visibly dirty or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be done wherever feasible, the SOP maintained.
Respiratory etiquettes involving strict practice of covering one’s mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing with a tissue/handkerchief/flexed elbow and disposing of used tissues properly are to be strictly followed, while strictly prohibiting spitting, it said. (Page News Service)
