UP: Primary schools to reopen for children from Monday, Covid protocols to be followed

Lucknow, 28 February: Primary schools, from classes 1 to 5 across Uttar Pradesh will reopen from March 1.

During this period, all schools will have to fully follow the guidelines issued by the government in view of the corona infection. Cleanliness of schools continued on Sunday.

However, the upper primary schools across the state, from classes 6 to 8 have already started from February 15.   

For one year, due to the outbreak of the global pandemic coronavirus disease (Covid-19), all education centres, like schools, colleges, universities and coaching institutes were closed due to the enforcement of the countrywide lockdown to prevent from the spread of the pathogen.

Basic Education Minister Satish Dwivedi said that the precautions that should be taken by our department from time to time, have issued guidelines. By following them, primary schools are being opened keeping in mind adequate sanitization, masks and other precautions.

He said that the schedule has been made according to the class.

Satish Chandra Dwivedi said that just as the schools from class 6 to 8 were open. We had decided that two days Class 6 and two days Class 7 children and two days one to five children will also call different classes on different days, so that social distancing can be followed.

He said that there would be no pressure on parents to send children to school. Parents who want to send children to school can send them voluntarily and the same children will come to school.

“According to the government’s guidelines, children will reach all schools under the Corona Protocol and offline classes will start. On the first day only 50 percent of the children of each class will be called. After this, the remaining 50 percent of the children will be held on the next day,” he added.

Apart from this, in schools where the number of children is more, there will be classes in two shifts. During this time there will be neither sports in schools nor will be allowed to organize any event. However, sports exemption have been granted in council schools. Under the Covid protocol, children will need a distance of six feet and a mask.

He said that parents will be called only to fulfil the qualification during the new admission, not the children. Schools will have to avoid organising events If necessary it will be mandatory to maintain physical distance. Thermal screening of children will have to be done. External vendors will not be able to sell food items inside the school. There should be a system of health workers ‚nurse and doctor in or around the school.

There should be a system of regular sanitization of children’s rickshaws, buses etc. During this time, children should have a system of clean water to drink and it should be kept in mind that children do not share books ‚notebooks‚ pens and lunches with anyone. Continuous sanitization and cleaning of rooms, toilets, doors, door-locks, seats etc. in schools will have to be done.