Education

Amid thin attendance, Jammu schools reopen for classes 10th,12th

On April 18 this year, Jammu schools, colleges and universities, were closed for offline teaching owing to the pandemic of COVID-19

Jammu: Various schools throughout Jammu reopened on Monday for students of classes 10th and 12th in compliance with new government norms, after being closed for months together to avoid the spread of novel Coronavirus.

However, attendance in both private and public schools for the two classes was low, but it is expected to improve in the following days.

On Tuesday, the number of students attending their schools in the region were larger in number, comparatively.

To avoid the spread of Covid-19, all educational institutions, including universities and colleges, were closed for offline lectures on April 18. However, earlier this month, several higher education institutions began accepting inoculated students.

Revised guidelines for reopening Jammu schools

The government allowed Jammu schools to reopen for classes 10 and 12 for in-person teaching with certain conditions, including permission from the deputy commissioner concerned and strict adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour, according to the latest Covid containment guidelines issued by State Executive Committee (SEC) chairperson and Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta on Sunday evening.

Regular courses for 12th grade were allowed in educational institutions, with restricted in-person instruction for vaccinated students and staff not exceeding 50% on any given day. Similarly, after confirming compliance with Covid-appropriate behaviour by the school management, the deputy commissioner concerned allowed limited in-person instruction of Class 10th students, not exceeding 50%.

However, the classes will be held only after a thorough screening using a 100% Rapid Antigen Test or RT-PCR, which will also be subject to parental and student consent, the order stated. Meanwhile, a large number of students have not been vaccinated since they are below 18 years of age.

After thorough screening and hand sanitization, only children with a negative Covid-19 test report were permitted to access the school grounds.

SEC reiterates only limited in-person teaching allowed

The SEC has also reiterated the reopening of Civil Services, Engineering, and NEET coaching centres with limited in-person teaching, but only for fully vaccinated staff and students.

All other coaching centres, as well as schools for the remaining classes, will stay closed, according to the directive.

Night curfew relaxed by two hours in certain areas

Meanwhile, the administration has increased the maximum number of people allowed in banquet halls from 25 to 50, subject to specific circumstances, and has shortened night curfews in several areas by two hours.

As per the order, all districts will have a night curfew from 8 PM to 7 AM, but districts with test positivity rate of less than 0.2 and a weekly caseload of fewer than 250 will have curfew restrictions from 10 PM to 6 AM.

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Aasif Ganaie

Aasif is a journalist and a news enthusiast based in Jammu & Kashmir. He voyages to explore and uncover the stories More »
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