Government releases SOPs for partial reopening of educational institutions, Parental consent and staggered visits included

Last updated on February 15th, 2023 at 12:34 pm

India is unlocking in a phased manner amid coronavirus pandemic. As a part of this on Tuesday Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued SOPs (standard operating procedures) for partial reopening of schools at secondary and senior secondary level. The preventive measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 issued are also applicable for skill and entrepreneurship training institutions, higher educational institutions offering doctoral and post graduate courses.

SOPs for school reopening would come into effect from September 21, 2020. Students from Class IX and higher would be allowed to visit schools on “voluntary basis, for taking guidance from their teachers.” This would be allowed subjected to a written consent from parents/ guardians. Also the visit between teacher and student must be arranged in a staggered manner.

SOPs issued for higher education state that entrepreneurship training can be carried out in national skill training institutes, industrial training institutes, short term training centres registered with National Skill Development Corporation or other ministries of State government or Government of India, National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIES BUD, Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) and their training providers.

SOPs for higher educational institutes that offer PhD or technical and professional courses and require laboratory or experimental works would be allowed by department of higher education after consultation with home ministry. Schools and higher educational institutes outside the containment zones would be only allowed to reopen. Furthermore, employees, students and teachers living in the containment zones would not be allowed to attend schools and other institutions.

Read: Air pollution season is set to worsen COVID-19 in India