Not more than 15 pupils per class: Chandigarh Education Dept

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 18

In view of the reopening of schools on voluntarily basis, the UT Education Department has decided that not more than 15 students are seated in a single classroom and the number must be restricted to 10 in case the size of the classroom is small.

In the first phase, the students of classes X and XII will be called. This will be followed by the students of Class XI and the last phase will involve calling of the students of Class IX.

The students coming to schools for guidance will be called in two sessions of two hours each, with a gap of one and a half hours between the two sessions. According to the standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the department today, the reopening of schools will be carried out in a phased manner.

For visiting the schools from September 21, the students will be required to carry a written consent of their parents or guardians. The students and teachers residing in micro-containment zones will not be allowed to visit the schools. Students, teachers and employees will be advised not to visit the areas falling within the micro-containment zones.

The students will be discouraged to carry eatables to the school to avoid sharing among the peers and the canteens will not be allowed to open. The students will be encouraged to carry their own drinking water bottles.

The teaching and non-teaching employees concerned, up to 50 per cent of the strength, may be called to schools for online teaching or tele-counselling and related work. Instead of biometric attendance, alternate arrangements for contactless attendance shall be made by the school administration.

The principals and heads of schools have been asked to specifically ensure that online or distance learning should continue to be permitted and encouraged and that the students of Classes IX to XII should be permitted to visit their school on a voluntary basis only for taking guidance from their teachers.

Guidelines:

• Provision of thermal screening at entry points
• Teachers and students to maintain 6-ft distance
• Use of face covers
• Frequent hand washing
• Sanitisers at the entry point of school, classroom
• One Class IV employee on duty at each washroom to avoid cluttering
• Markings on the floor with a gap of six feet

What’s prohibited

• Sports events, assemblies, canteens, biometric attendance, eatables